Carlos Alcaraz comes from a set down to beat Novak Djokovic in Saudi Arabia… world No 2 triumphs 4-6 6-4 6-4 in pre-Australian Open exhibition

Carlos Alcaraz came from a set down to beat rival Novak Djokovic in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday.

To kick off the new season, the two best male players in the world faced off in the Saudi desert for the Riyadh Season Tennis Cup. 

It was a match that swung this way and that, with Alcaraz breaking in the very first game, only for Djokovic to reply with two breaks of his own to take the opener 6-4.

But the Serbian world No 1 lost his serve at the start of the second set, too, and this time Alcaraz held his nerve to level the match.

Carlos Alcaraz came from a set down to beat rival Novak Djokovic in Saudi Arabia

 In an exhibition ahead of next month’s Australian Open, the world No 2 triumphed 4-6 6-4 6-4

Djokovic took the first set but was eventually beaten in the Riyadh Season Tennis Cup

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Alcaraz and Djokovic appear primed to write another few chapters in their rivalry in 2024

The Wimbledon champion then took charge of the third set, breaking in the third game. But Djokovic rallied once more – levelling at three games apiece – before Alcaraz sealed a decisive second break.

The Spaniard needed three bites at the cherry before eventually edging 5-4 ahead. The 20-year-old Alcaraz then closed out the match.  

Alcaraz and Djokovic appear primed to write another few chapters in their pulsating rivalry, which caught fire in 2023. First, Djokovic beat the Spaniard in the semifinals at Roland Garros before Alcaraz exacted revenge in a remarkable Wimbledon final.

On Tuesday, meanwhile, it was the turn of the women, with Aryna Sabalenka beating Ons Jabeur to the crown in Riyadh.

The world No 2 from Belarus also needed three sets to beat her Tunisian opponent, eventually winning 4-6 6-3 6-2.