Bruguera: Alcaraz-Djokovic 'most exciting match of the year'

Alcaraz wore his national colours on home clay, toppling Romania's Marius Copil 6-4, 6-3 in a qualifier tie at the Puente Romano Club de Tenis in Marbella.  

Bruguera, who was Spain's Davis Cup captain last Spring, was taken aback by how easily Alcaraz had transitioned to the top tier of men's tennis.

"He played an unbelievable match. I was so pleased the way he coped with his debut," Bruguera told rolandgarros.com at the Legends' Trophy by Emirates event launch. "Davis Cup is always different, always difficult. It lets you grow as a person and as a player."

Since his Marbella bow, Alcaraz has rocketed to top of the rankings and became Grand Slam champion by triumphing at the US Open last September.

Four days after his major breakthrough in New York, Alcaraz turned up for 'La Roja' again to take part in the Davis Cup Finals. The then-teenager fell in three sets to Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime, before dismissing South Korean Kwon Soonwoo 6-4, 7-6(1) two days later.

"He was obviously ready (to be at the top). When he played again, he came from winning the Grand Slam," said Bruguera.

"I think always he is going up and up in all the aspects of the tennis. He's unbelievable with his progression."

Former US Open champion and five-time Roland-Garros semi-finalist Gabriela Sabatini, also chatting at the Legends' media day, highlights the mental fortitude of the box-office 20-year-old.

"What stands out the most is his mentality," said the Argentine great. "He's losing, he's saying 'c'mon', being positive and that's crucial in sports, in tennis, your attitude. Being positive, looking ahead, forgetting the last point, this is what he does. I think this is what is going to take him very far."

On Friday, world No.1 Alcaraz will take on history-chasing, 22-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic in a blockbuster semi-final and Bruguera is eager to see how it all plays out.

"I think the most interesting, the most exciting match of the year," said the 52-year-old Spaniard. "For me, I'd love to watch it, I'll be curious to see how the game develops, how they react to each other."

Alcaraz defeated Djokovic from a set down in a thrilling semi-final in Madrid last May. Although it was a significant moment for his compatriot, Bruguera feels it won't effect the result on Friday. 

"Carlos was so young, still on the up, Djokovic was starting back from all his trouble at the start of the year, said Bruguera.

"It was a different time for both of them. Madrid is the only clay-court tournament which is completely different with the altitude. So Friday is a different match for sure."

Bruguera paused and smiled when asked for a prediction: "It's impossible to predict. It will be so interesting how they're going to play, how they'll set up for the match. All I know is it will be exciting, an occasion."