Retired ATP player Juan Martin del Potro has had his say on the blossoming rivalry between Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz, who have played out some epic battles this season.
The latest duel between the world's top two players happened last Sunday at the Cincinnati Masters where Djokovic fought back from the brink of defeat to beat Alcaraz in the longest best-of-three final in ATP history, which lasted three hours and 49 minutes high octane tennis.
The former US Open champion was in Cincinnati this past week landing a gig in collaboration with Maestro Dobel, the US Open's first-ever tequila sponsor. He spoke to Tennis.com on a range of topics, among them his decision to pull the plug on playing this year's US Open, and his thoughts on the Djokovic-Alcaraz rivalry that has whet tennis fans' appetite.
They are set to be drawn in opposite halves of the draw when the US Open draw is released on Thursday, throwing a possible fifth meeting between them in the final. Del Potro admits this matchup enhances the growth of tennis among fans and says the pair are currently clear of the rest of the playing field.
"First, for the tennis fans, would be great to see them fighting very often. I think people will get crazy watching them playing finals, as they did in Wimbledon. At the moment, they are the two guys playing tennis in another level. You have very good players like Daniil Medvedev, Alexander Zverev, Casper Ruud, many others."
"But these two players, for me, from my point of view and how I understand the game, they are even better than the rest, for now. I will be watching on TV."
During his playing days, the towering Argentine possessed one of the most powerful forehands the game has ever seen. On his best days, he was seemingly unplayable and is part of a gaudy list of players to have beaten each of the Big 3 at various points in his career.
Asked whether he has passed the baton to Carlos Alcaraz as far as his hammer of a forehand is concerned, del Potro states that could be true and believes the Spaniard has the potential to improve on that shot in the future, which is pretty scary.
"I don't know if someone has the hammer now, but I think Carlitos Alcaraz. He hit his forehand really strong too. He has also the potential to hit better in the future years. I'm crazy about his game, about his charisma. I like a lot the way that he moves in the court. And I think he's making very good things for the sport."
Del Potro remains confident that men's tennis is in safe hands even when all three members of the Big 3 leave the stage. He adds that the emergence of Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner means we could see something similar in the coming years.
"After the Big 3 moves out, the transition is going to be in good hands with Carlitos, with Jannik Sinner also. These guys have the potential to be at the top for the next years."
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