Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images

“I Prefer Lorenzo Over Djokovic” – Carlos Alcaraz Embraces Musetti Clash After Novak Withdraws, Admitting Djokovic’s Indoor Dominance Still Haunts Him

Alcaraz breaks down why facing Musetti feels far safer than Djokovic indoors.

Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images

Carlos Alcaraz’s ATP Finals campaign took a welcome turn after Novak Djokovic’s late withdrawal opened the door for Lorenzo Musetti to enter the Jimmy Connors group, creating exactly the scenario the Spaniard prefers. Fresh off a confident 7-6(5), 6-2 win over Alex de Minaur in his opener, Alcaraz is now set to play Musetti and Taylor Fritz in his remaining round-robin matches, and he didn’t hesitate to admit the change makes his path less daunting.

🇪🇸 Carlos Alcaraz says he would rather be in the same group as Musetti than Djokovic:

“I'm not going to lie, I prefer Lorenzo over Djokovic in my group.

“It is always difficult to face Novak here because of the experience he has and his level on these courts.

“I lost to him… pic.twitter.com/QOUlgOfjrS
— Olly Tennis 🎾🇬🇧 (@Olly_Tennis_) November 9, 2025

Alcaraz Explains Why He Prefers Musetti Over Djokovic

Djokovic’s exit, caused by lingering shoulder trouble that flared during his Athens Open title run, instantly reshuffled the group dynamics. The world No. 2 made it clear that facing the 38-year-old legend on indoor courts remains one of the toughest tasks in men’s tennis.

“I’m not going to lie, I prefer Lorenzo over Djokovic in my group,” Alcaraz said candidly. “It is always difficult to face Novak here because of the experience he has and his level on these courts. I lost to him in the 2023 semifinals and he killed me.”

Alcaraz’s honesty reflected both respect and realism. Djokovic has long treated the ATP Finals as his territory, and even in his late 30s, his indoor level can spike into untouchable territory. Musetti, by contrast, poses a different kind of challenge, being dangerous and talented but still adapting to the unique demands of Turin.

“I’ve been really proud of the way I’ve been doing the things to come here with motivation”

Carlos Alcaraz reflects on his journey to the ATP Finals following his victory today 💪 pic.twitter.com/F93l49bkjt
— TNT Sports (@tntsports) November 9, 2025

Still, Alcaraz didn’t downplay the Italian’s legitimacy. “It is clear that if Musetti is in Turin, it is because he deserves it,” he said. “Let’s see how he adapts because he comes from playing in Athens and he hasn’t been able to feel the court.”

Musetti’s last-minute entry came after finishing runner-up to Djokovic in Athens, a result that initially kept him out as Felix Auger-Aliassime secured the final qualification spot. But with Djokovic unable to recover from the shoulder strain that required visible strapping all week, Musetti was quickly confirmed as his replacement. He enters the Finals on the back of the best season of his career, highlighted by a breakthrough Masters 1000 final in Monte Carlo.

The Italian saw nothing unusual in the timing of Djokovic’s withdrawal, saying: “I think Novak, he was completely in the rules… The strange situation was that he was playing literally the week before the Masters. When he told me at the net after the match that he was not coming, honestly, we had a laugh about it.”

Lorenzo Musetti said he and Novak Djokovic "had a laugh" about the events that got him to Turin after all.

"I think Novak, he was completely in the rules of the ATP, of the tournament itself," he said of Djokovic's late withdrawal.https://t.co/RmS9JmLb6K
— TENNIS (@Tennis) November 10, 2025

As Turin adjusts to this late twist, the storyline now rests squarely on Alcaraz, his confidence, and whether the draw he prefers becomes the one he dominates.

Mandatory Image Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images

ATP Finals 2025

Carlos Alcaraz

Lorenzo Musetti

Novak Djokovic

Rudra Dubey

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I’m an academic turned sports writer from Raipur, India, specializing in the NFL, MMA, and tennis at The Playoffs. I previously wrote for Sportskeeda and hold a B.A. and M.A. in History. My journey into sports media began far from the field, rooted in the arts and sciences. Funny enough, I didn’t grow up a sports fan; I used to see it all as just noise. But a fateful writing job introduced me to the world of sports, and what began as a gig quickly became a passion. I understood those voices aren’t noise; they’re emotions of true sports fans, and now I am one of them, writing with the same energy I once questioned.