Despite arriving at this year's Hamburg Open in top form, Spain's Carlos Alcaraz still does not consider himself the game's best.
Following a stellar run on the clay around Europe before a brief interlude on SW19's grass courts, Hamburg welcomes Alcaraz as a tournament favourite going into the competition.
The top seed and with a chance to add his third ATP Tour title to his growing collection, occupying the top places in the seedings is now a given for the Spaniard and a role with which he is more than comfortable.
However, despite taking the tennis world by storm in recent months, the youngster is still wary and respectful of the all-time greats that are still an ever-present threat in any tournament they find themselves in.
Speaking specifically about compatriot and idol Rafa Nadal and Serbian legend Novak Djokovic, he admitted that he in fact considers them to be the best players currently on tour:
"I don't think I am the best player right now, I mean, Novak [Djokovic] won Wimbledon, Rafa [Nadal] Roland Garros and Australia, so there are a lot of great players ahead of me right now. I didn’t take it as a pressure. It is just motivation for me, but I don’t think I am the best player right now.”
The Spaniard impressed many by admitting that he was ready to win a grand slam leading up to Roland Garros but it is exactly that confidence that he brings to the court as well. He once again did something similar ahead of Hamburg by saying he is going for the trophy:
"I know that I am playing well. I feel comfortable playing on clay. I am going for the [Hamburg Open] title."
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