Carlos Alcaraz questions "fastest surface of the year", applauds Novak Djokovic's "unbelievable" 2023

Carlos Alcaraz came out on the losing end of his Nitto ATP Finals debut to two-time event winner Alexander Zverev on Monday afternoon.

For the world No. 2, adapting to what he described as “the fastest surface of the year” against the German proved to be a challenge Alcaraz couldn't quite solve.

“I don't know why they put this kind of surface at the end of the year because all the tournaments that we have played on hard court is so, so slow,” he told press following his 6-7 (3), 6-3, 6-4 defeat. “Then we come here to the (ATP Finals) and they put this court, so fast. I don't know why.”

A year ago, Alcaraz missed out on contesting the eight-man event when an abdominal injury forced him to cut his season short prematurely. He still appeared in Turin to receive the ATP year-end world No. 1 trophy during an on-court presentation.

While the two-time major winner was in with a shot to repeat the feat this year until a slow autumn swing of results proved insurmountable, Novak Djokovic was simply a cut above. Alcaraz applauded the remarkable season the now 36-year-old Serbian compiled.

“He has lost just five matches in the year. It's unbelievable,” Alcaraz said of his rival. “He deserves it, for sure. I mean, he has won three Grand Slams and reached the final of the fourth one. He won two or three Masters 1000 (events).

“All I can say is congratulations to him, the eighth time that he has the No. 1. I will fight to have the chance in the next year.”

In dropping his Red Group opener, the 20-year-old awaits the outcome of Monday night’s match between Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev. The player who falls in the all-Russian encounter will face Alcaraz come Wednesday.