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Alcaraz Motivated to Topple Australian Open King Djokovic

Carlos Alcaraz practices at the Australian Open. DAVID GRAY / AFP
Carlos Alcaraz practices at the Australian Open. DAVID GRAY / AFP
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Alcaraz Motivated to Topple Australian Open King Djokovic

Carlos Alcaraz practices at the Australian Open. DAVID GRAY / AFP
Carlos Alcaraz practices at the Australian Open. DAVID GRAY / AFP

Carlos Alcaraz says the challenge of toppling 10-time champion Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open gives him "extra motivation" as he aims to end the Serbian's long reign in Melbourne, AFP reported on Saturday.
The Spanish world number two missed the Grand Slam last year with a leg injury but is seeded to meet Djokovic in the final in Melbourne.
The pair have met five times –- all in semi-finals or finals -– with the veteran leading 3-2.
Djokovic, 36, is unbeaten at the year's opening major since 2018 but Alcaraz, who came out on top in a thrilling Wimbledon final last year, said that only increased his desire to win.
"It's an extra motivation for me," the two-time Grand Slam champion said on Saturday. "I'm an ambitious guy.
"I always want to play against the best players in the world to see what my level is. Obviously it's a good test, playing against him in the places or in the tournament that he's almost unbeaten.
"Yeah, I am looking to reach the final and hopefully playing a final against him. It would be great, obviously."
Alcaraz is aiming to become just the fourth man to win three majors before turning 21 after Rafael Nadal, Bjorn Borg and Mats Wilander.
The 20-year-old chose not play a warm-up tournament before the Australian Open, which starts on Sunday, saying he had to recharge his body and mind.
"We discussed with my team, as well, that we need almost four, five weeks of pre-season to prepare well this season, for the first Grand Slam of the year," he said.
"We have no time if I wanted to play a tournament before the Australian Open. In the end we preferred to come here to the Australian Open, straight to a Grand Slam. I think I'm a guy who doesn't need so much competition before a big tournament."
The Spaniard is in Melbourne without his coach Juan Carlos Ferrero, who has had knee surgery. Instead he will be coached by Samuel Lopez, who worked with former world number one Ferrero during his playing career.
Alcaraz admitted losing Ferrero was a blow but said he trusted Lopez.
"I believe in him, Juan Carlos, as well," he said of Lopez. "I think I can learn a lot from him as well. Let's see how is going to be. As I said, I trust him 100 percent."

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Tennis Player Taylor Fritz is Donating Australian Open Prize Money to LA Wildfire Relief Funds

Taylor Fritz of the US plays a forehand return to Cristian Garin of Chile during their second round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
Taylor Fritz of the US plays a forehand return to Cristian Garin of Chile during their second round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
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Tennis Player Taylor Fritz is Donating Australian Open Prize Money to LA Wildfire Relief Funds

Taylor Fritz of the US plays a forehand return to Cristian Garin of Chile during their second round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
Taylor Fritz of the US plays a forehand return to Cristian Garin of Chile during their second round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

American tennis player Taylor Fritz said Thursday he is donating the prize money he earned for his first-round victory at the Australian Open — about $82,000 — to relief funds to help people affected by the wildfires in the greater Los Angeles area.

“I mean, I feel like it’s really the least I can do,” said US Open finalist Fritz, who was born in Rancho Santa Fe, California, and still is based in the state.

“Obviously ‘SoCal’ has been my home forever. I still spend a lot of time in LA, but I lived in LA for quite a while. I have friends impacted; family not so much. I had some family have to evacuate. The house that my brothers grew up in burnt down. Obviously, they’re not living there anymore,” Fritz said after reaching the third round at Melbourne Park with a 6-2, 6-1, 6-0 victory over qualifier Cristian Garín of Chile.

“A lot of people are affected by it,” added Fritz, the runner-up to Jannik Sinner at the US Open in September and seeded No. 4 in Australia. “I feel like if you’re in a place to help, then you should.”

Authorities have not determined a cause for the major blazes in what is on track to become the nation’s costliest fire disaster, with at least 25 people dead and thousands of homes destroyed, according to The AP.

Several athletes with connections to the LA area have been competing at the year’s first Grand Slam tournament.

Naomi Osaka, a four-time major champion, said she sent someone to retrieve her 1 1/2-year-old daughter’s birth certificate from their California home in case it got caught up in the fires. Tristan Boyer, a 23-year-old from California who had a first-round win but lost Thursday, said his father had to evacuate their house in Altadena.

“We have friends and family who are homeless now. It’s really, really devastating to see,” Boyer said. “Obviously trying to do what I need to do to prep and play tennis, but control what I can control in this moment. But it’s hard for sure.”

Fritz will play French veteran Gael Monfils on Saturday for a berth in the fourth round in Australia. Also on Fritz’s mind is what is happening back home.

“I just want everyone to obviously stay safe,” Fritz said. “It’s just insane what happened.”