Owner of four Slam titles at 21, Alcaraz dreams of one day sitting ‘at same table’ as Djokovic, Nadal and Federer
LONDON: Carlos Alcaraz took ownership of Wimbledon’s Centre Court in signature style. The 21-year-old was leaping into the air and slamming forehands one minute and getting down on the grass and picking up a volley off his shoelaces the next. He was all over the court, covering ground, corner to corner, baseline to net and back again without really breaking a sweat.
The Spaniard thumped down serves at 136 mph and came up with feather light dropshots. Like a real estate mogul marking territory, he knew every blade of grass on the rectangle. “I’ve never seen him serve that way, 136. I’ve never seen him serve that fast,” Novak Djokovic marvelled.
Alcaraz, just the second man in the Open Era to win his first four Grand Slam finals, Roger Federer won his first seven, is in a race with the record books. “I’ve seen and heard all the stats,” he said. “I try not to think about it too much. It’s a really great start to my career, but I have to keep going.”
Alcaraz has Djokovic’s 24 Grand Slams, Rafael Nadal 22 and Roger Federer 20 in his sights. That’s the goal post he’s aiming for. “At the end of my career, I want to sit at the same table as the big guys. That’s my dream right now,” the two-time Wimbledon champion said. “It doesn’t matter if I already won four Grand Slams at the age of 21. If I don’t keep going, it doesn’t matter. I will try to keep winning and end my career with a lot of Grand Slam titles.”
The world No. 3, who turns to the golf course to relax, reiterated the importance of building. Brick by brick. “I’m happy with the work I’m doing with my team, I’m proud of myself, all the things that I’m doing great. It has been unbelievable, an amazing journey so far,” said Alcaraz, whose long-time coach Juan Carlos Ferrero has been the conductor of his career.
“I don’t know what my limit is. I don’t want to think about it,” he said. “I just want to keep enjoying my moment, just to keep dreaming. So, let’s see if at the end of my career it’s going to be 25, 30, 15 or four (Slams). I don’t know.”
Alcaraz, who had 21 forehand winners, and just 10 unforced errors off that flank in the final against Djokovic, picked on his weapon when asked where he could improve. “I have to keep improving everything, I guess. My forehand, at this level I think it can be better. Every year it should be better,” he said. “I think my game in general can improve. I have to keep growing and keep improving.”
Alcaraz, whose play appeared to have lost its edge in the second half of last year, stumbling in big matches, falling to Daniil Medvedev in the semifinals of the US Open, said he needed to grow up.
“I learnt a lot from that match against Daniil in the US Open in 2023,” he said. “I had to be more mature in those situations. I gave up a little bit. I remember perfectly. I gave up a little bit in the second set after losing the first one. It is unacceptable playing in a Grand Slam. I knew that these things can’t happen again.”
“I’m here right now thanks to these kinds of situations that I learned from,” he added. Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, who between them have the season’s first three majors covered, have powered a change of guard. That’s not to say Djokovic is done, only that the top of the game has a whole different vibe now.
“Being over there with Jannik, 21 years old and 22 years old in the top of the ranking, winning Grand Slams, I think it is good for tennis to have new faces winning the big things and fighting for the big tournaments,” he said. “I’m glad to have him there. We have a good rivalry, young players, fighting for these trophies. It’s great for the sport, for the other players as well.”
LONDON: Carlos Alcaraz took ownership of Wimbledon’s Centre Court in signature style. The 21-year-old was leaping into the air and slamming forehands one minute and getting down on the grass and picking up a volley off his shoelaces the next. He was all over the court, covering ground, corner to corner, baseline to net and back again without really breaking a sweat.
The Spaniard thumped down serves at 136 mph and came up with feather light dropshots. Like a real estate mogul marking territory, he knew every blade of grass on the rectangle. “I’ve never seen him serve that way, 136. I’ve never seen him serve that fast,” Novak Djokovic marvelled.
Alcaraz, just the second man in the Open Era to win his first four Grand Slam finals, Roger Federer won his first seven, is in a race with the record books. “I’ve seen and heard all the stats,” he said. “I try not to think about it too much. It’s a really great start to my career, but I have to keep going.”
Alcaraz has Djokovic’s 24 Grand Slams, Rafael Nadal 22 and Roger Federer 20 in his sights. That’s the goal post he’s aiming for. “At the end of my career, I want to sit at the same table as the big guys. That’s my dream right now,” the two-time Wimbledon champion said. “It doesn’t matter if I already won four Grand Slams at the age of 21. If I don’t keep going, it doesn’t matter. I will try to keep winning and end my career with a lot of Grand Slam titles.”
The world No. 3, who turns to the golf course to relax, reiterated the importance of building. Brick by brick. “I’m happy with the work I’m doing with my team, I’m proud of myself, all the things that I’m doing great. It has been unbelievable, an amazing journey so far,” said Alcaraz, whose long-time coach Juan Carlos Ferrero has been the conductor of his career.
“I don’t know what my limit is. I don’t want to think about it,” he said. “I just want to keep enjoying my moment, just to keep dreaming. So, let’s see if at the end of my career it’s going to be 25, 30, 15 or four (Slams). I don’t know.”
Alcaraz, who had 21 forehand winners, and just 10 unforced errors off that flank in the final against Djokovic, picked on his weapon when asked where he could improve. “I have to keep improving everything, I guess. My forehand, at this level I think it can be better. Every year it should be better,” he said. “I think my game in general can improve. I have to keep growing and keep improving.”
Alcaraz, whose play appeared to have lost its edge in the second half of last year, stumbling in big matches, falling to Daniil Medvedev in the semifinals of the US Open, said he needed to grow up.
“I learnt a lot from that match against Daniil in the US Open in 2023,” he said. “I had to be more mature in those situations. I gave up a little bit. I remember perfectly. I gave up a little bit in the second set after losing the first one. It is unacceptable playing in a Grand Slam. I knew that these things can’t happen again.”
“I’m here right now thanks to these kinds of situations that I learned from,” he added. Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, who between them have the season’s first three majors covered, have powered a change of guard. That’s not to say Djokovic is done, only that the top of the game has a whole different vibe now.
“Being over there with Jannik, 21 years old and 22 years old in the top of the ranking, winning Grand Slams, I think it is good for tennis to have new faces winning the big things and fighting for the big tournaments,” he said. “I’m glad to have him there. We have a good rivalry, young players, fighting for these trophies. It’s great for the sport, for the other players as well.”