Alcaraz eager to measure himself against Djokovic at Australian Open

World number one Carlos Alcaraz says he is a "lucky guy" to have a top player like Novak Djokovic on tour and is looking forward to the Serb's return to the Australian Open next month.

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Djokovic missed two of the four Grand Slams in 2022 - in Melbourne and New York - because he was not vaccinated against Covid-19 but will be allowed to enter Australia for the 2023 edition.

Alcaraz, 19, took full advantage of 35-year-old Djokovic's absence at the US Open as he stormed to a maiden Grand Slam triumph and became the youngest-ever ATP No 1 in the process.

The Spaniard assures he is happy, though, that Djokovic will be able to compete at Melbourne Park, relishing the prospect of potentially facing off with the 21-time major champion, who has won the Australian Open a record nine times.

"Tennis is better having the best players in the world, and for the fans as well it's good to see a tournament with the best players," Alcaraz told reporters in Abu Dhabi, where he is set to take part in the Mubadala World Tennis Championship exhibition event.

"Talking for me, I want to see Novak play in every tournament. I always said that if you want to be the best, you have to beat the best player in the world. I'm a lucky guy to have Djokovic on the tour."

Alcaraz revealed he has "almost 100 percent" recovered from an abdominal injury that forced him to retire from his Paris Masters quarter-final against Holger Rune last month and ruled him out of his last two events of the 2022 season - the ATP Finals and Davis Cup Finals.

"I feel good finally. I had a month to recover well the ab and right now I feel almost 100 percent. I have been training normally this past week and I'm feeling