Novak Djokovic has been in the sport for many years, and dominating as much as he did was described by Carlos Alcaraz as an act of brutality ahead of the 2024 US Open.
Alcaraz wouldn't consider himself a poet or a man of words, but the Spaniard found a really interesting way of describing Djokovic's dominance in tennis ahead of the US Open. The Serbian has been around for a very long time and has dominated for a good portion of that.
He's been more dominant in the past ten years than in the years before that, but overall, he's just been a constant force, all that while several generations tried to dislodge him from the top.
The leader of this generation is Alcaraz, and while he's had far more success than most, the 21-year-old still hasn't sent Djokovic anywhere close to retirement. The Serbian just beat him at the Paris Olympics, and to the Spaniard, dominating for so long is an act of brutality.
"It is an act of brutality being totally honest. What I can say… I can speak just to myself. I am very happy with my daily work to have the opportunity to win these titles as much as possible."
It's an interesting way of phrasing, but it takes quite a bit of ruthlessness to do what Djokovic has been able to do. There is a reason why some of the best athletes of all time have been described as 'crazy.'
It takes a maniacal obsession to push that much, and the 24-time major winner has certainly been able to do that despite the injuries and setbacks. There are plenty of lessons to learn from that, and Alcaraz has already learned them.
He has to always evolve as a player if he wants to remain on top. He mentioned his own early success but underlined that it won't matter much if he doesn't evolve as a player.
"I am 21 years-old and I have already won four [Grand Slams] but I am hoping it won’t stop here. A lot of people are saying that if I have already four how many I will be able to win in the future… but it won’t count much if you have won four now and that stops and you won’t evolve."
Much like Djokovic has over the span of his career, Alcaraz wants to keep growing and improving. He even mentioned Djokovic as a role model in that regard, and his overall career is the best endorsement for this approach.
"My task is to keep growing and improving to win as many as possible because that’s my aim. It is what Djokovic has done during his whole career… he always wanted to keep improving when he played these kinds of tournaments, to give his best version."
"That’s what he has always achieved and that’s why a lot of people admire him. Let’s hope he won’t be able to continue winning more titles. Let’s wait and see but hopefully we will be able to continue with this path."