Novak Djokovic showered high praise to Carlos Alcaraz calling him one of the most impressive players he has faced in his illustrious career.
Djokovic and Alcarraz were expected to clash at the Davis Cup group stage this week where Serbia and Spain were pitted in the same group. But Alcaraz's withdrawal means that the marquee match is now off. Instead, Djokovic who is fresh from winning the US Open will wait to see his new opponent once the day's schedule is released.
Nevertheless, Djokovic remained conspicuous of the 20-year-old's talent and dedicated a segment of his press conference ahead of his first match in the Davis Cup lauding Alcaraz's meteoric rise. Djokovic believes Alcaraz's results speak for themselves.
Apart from being the only ATP player born after 1990 to win multiple Grand Slams, he finished the 2022 season as the youngest ATP No. 1 in history. Djokovic states that Alcaraz is already part of the elite and tips him to have a 'spectacular career' provided he stays healthy. The Serbian, however, warns that it's not written in the stars that he will end up being one of the best in history.
"In terms of results, I think he is already there. He has only been competing on the circuit for a couple of years and has already won two Grand Slams, in addition to being the youngest no. 1 in history. Everything he achieved last year is incredible for a boy of only 19 years old, it is something impressive for the history of our sport."
"He is a special boy, he will have a spectacular career if he stays healthy and maintains this level of tennis, although nothing can guarantee that he will end up being one of the best in history."
Djokovic is adamant that a new set of challengers will crop up to give Alcaraz competition in addition to his closest rivals like Jannik Sinner and Holger Rune also improving and figuring out ways to beat him. But based on what he's seen so far, Djokovic says Alcaraz is among the players who have impressed him the most when playing each other.
"They know you more and more, the rivals are understanding how you play, what I can say is that he is one of the players who has impressed me the most when it comes to facing him. The arrival of Carlos Alcaraz is very good for tennis."
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