Novak Djokovic had many good words for Carlos Alcaraz, but the young tennis player refused this compliment.

Carlos Alcaraz ended Novak Djokovic’s long unbeaten streak to win Wimbledon 2023. Djokovic was full of praise for his opponent after the final. He believes that the world’s No. 1 young tennis player possesses all the best qualities and combines certain elements from Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and himself.

The pair will meet again in the final of the Cincinnati Masters. And Alcaraz responded to Djokovic’s compliments likening him to the “Big Three” of tennis.
Alcaraz doesn’t want to compare to anyone but himself. Photo: Getty.
The 20-year-old player said he was proud to be highly appreciated by Djokovic, but he wanted to be remembered for his own unique talent. 

“It’s great that someone like Novak says these things about you. The best person ever faced Nadal and Federer and said I have some similarities with them. That was amazing to me. But I don’t completely agree because I am Carlos Alcaraz.”

“I don’t follow the style like Rafa, like Roger, like Novak. I just tried to follow my own path, trying to make Carlos Alcaraz who I am.”

Alcaraz had a tough road to the final of the Cincinnati Masters. England needed three sets in all matches to reach the final.

The Spanish tennis player also unexpectedly lost to Tommy Paul at the Canadian Open last week. Meanwhile, Djokovic has not yet lost a set to reach the final. Alcaraz holds the record against Djokovic in three encounters so far, with the win at Wimbledon being his second against the Serbian.

Djokovic missed the chance to win his 24th title, breaking the Open Era record and equaling Margaret Court’s number of titles after losing to Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final.

The Serbian tennis player set his determination higher at the US Open, where he won 3 times. The US Open remains Djokovic’s least successful Grand Slam tournament and he last won a title there in 2018.