Roger Federer on Novak Djokovic’s claim that Carlos Alcaraz is a mix of the ‘Big Three’

Roger Federer cautions that Carlos Alcaraz is unlikely to emulate the game’s greatest players despite his remarkable start to his tennis career.

By the age of 20, Alcaraz has already secured two Grand Slam titles. He followed up his US Open victory last year with a sensational win over Novak Djokovic in the Wimbledon final in July.

Although Alcaraz previously held the top spot in the ATP rankings and clinched the year-end world No. 1 title, his recent performances have been on a decline.

Following his defeat against Daniil Medvedev in the US Open semi-final, he suffered losses to Jannik Sinner in the China Open and Grigor Dimitrov in the Shanghai Masters last week.

Now, 20-time Grand Slam winner Roger Federer shares his perspective on Alcaraz’s rise, emphasizing that fans should not expect a player of his age to achieve the same level of consistency that he, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic attained during their dominant periods.

“I believe Carlos has performed brilliantly up until now,” Alcaraz stated in an interview with the ATP Tennis Radio podcast. “He will lose occasionally, as he did here in Shanghai, but he’s doing fantastic. He possesses a great game and obviously a remarkable future ahead.”

“Of course, we all anticipate every generation to consistently display their best tennis week after week, just like Rafa, Novak, myself, and Murray did during our primes, but it’s difficult to maintain that level,” Federer added.

“Alcaraz is exceptional. He is still young, and his accomplishments thus far are extraordinary. Not only has he excelled on clay and hard courts, but winning Wimbledon against Novak in the final is a phenomenal achievement. He didn’t really need to prove himself further, but that victory adds another remarkable accolade to his CV.”

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Djokovic described Alcaraz as a blend of himself, Federer, and Nadal after losing to the young Spaniard in the Wimbledon final. This ultimate tribute has sparked a fascinating discussion in the tennis world.

Federer has now responded to Djokovic’s analysis, seemingly in agreement with the Serbian’s sentiments. “I see a bit of power on the forehand side, reminiscent of Rafa’s style,” he commented on Alcaraz. “Perhaps there’s also some technique from myself. Obviously, he employs the drop shot, uses slice, and can play from the backcourt like Rafa. He also possesses defensive skills that rival Novak’s, although Novak has reached an elite level through years of consistency. Similar to Rafa on clay.”

“But it’s unfair to make direct comparisons because Carlos is Carlos, Novak is Novak, and Rafa is Rafa. I don’t like it when there are too many comparisons. I prefer it when players stand on their own.”

Alcaraz still has a long way to go before he can be considered one of the all-time greats like Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic. However, he is already receiving commendation from the right sources at this early stage of his career.