'I'm a lucky guy to learn from Roger Federer, Nadal, Djokovic', says ATP ace

On Sunday evening, Carlos Alcaraz became the youngest winner of an ATP title since then 18-year-old Kei Nishikori won at Delray Beach way back in 2008. Confining the speech only to Spain, it was since Rafael Nadal's triumph in Sopot 2004 that a so young Iberian player did not raise a trophy in the major circuit. Juan Carlos Ferrero's protégé has often been compared to the 20-time Grand Slam champion and it cannot be denied that - for the same age - the numbers of the two are very similar. Alcaraz has shown that he has all the credentials to reach the top of men's tennis in the future, without forgetting an excessive physical power that has practically no equal among his peers. Thanks to the success achieved over Richard Gasquet in the final in Umag, Carlos is also very close to his main goal in 2021, which is to close the season in the Top 50 of the ATP ranking. At the press conference, the Spaniard also expressed himself on the greatness of the Big 3 (Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic).

Carlos Alcaraz on the Big 3

"I try not to think about that (comparisons with Rafael Nadal)," Carlos Alcaraz said. "I say always the same – I'm focused on my [path]. I’m still learning, still growing up, still being friendly with everyone and am still focused on my [path]." Carlos Alcaraz further claimed he looked up to all members of the Big 3 - Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic - during his early days. The teenager considers himself lucky to be playing on tour at the same time as the legendary trio. "I grew up watching them winning tournaments, winning Grand Slams and I think they're three of the best in history," Alcaraz said. "For me, it's amazing to play against them on the same circuit. I'm a lucky guy to learn from them. My goal for this year was to reach the top 50," Alcaraz said. "I think now I'm [close], so when I reach this goal I'm going to put another goal for the end of the season. My biggest goal is to reach No. 1 in the world and I'm working hard for that." With the victory over Jan-Lennard Struff, Novak Djokovic has now won 11 matches in the singles category of the Olympic Games in his career. Interestingly, he is now third on the list of the most successful players at the biggest sporting tournament.

 

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/3BKBPwB