Djokovic: "Alcaraz has already reached the tennis level of the Big-3"

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Novak Djokovic returned to the Magic Box after two years of absence. And the Serbian lands at the Mutua Madrid Open with the news of the absence of Carlos Alcaraz, automatically becoming the main figure of the Madrid tournament. The three-time champion in Madrid took advantage of his press conference to defend the legacy of the Big-3 and also to vindicate all that Alcaraz has achieved at just 21 years old.

Back in Madrid after two years of absence

"I missed the Mutua Madrid Open crowd, it's one of the best on the circuit. From the main court to the other courts, they are all very electric. I always show a good level of tennis when I play in Madrid. And this year, I'm looking to find the level to play my tennis, especially for Roland Garros. But I'm not coming with many expectations. I'm excited to play here because of the support they give me."

About Carlos Alcaraz

I think Alcaraz has already reached the tennis level of the Big 3. Obviously, with the results at his age, he has more than us at that age. But he has a long career ahead, he has everything necessary to make history in our sport. His absence is not good news for the tournament because Carlos is the new star of Spanish tennis and the crowd here gives him a lot of strength. But he comes from winning Monte Carlo, playing another final in Barcelona, and has some physical problems. I hope the rest of the players can provide good tennis for the audience.

The current difficulty of winning several tournaments in a row

"It is true that Rafa dominated the clay court season, Roger the grass, and I the hard court season. But personally, I believe that level of tennis and dominance came to me at 23 or 24, not before. And Alcaraz is not even 23 years old yet, we have to remember that what he has achieved at his age is not normal. And I assume we will continue to see him winning big trophies for as long as he is a professional player."

Advocating for his generation

"It's difficult to compare eras. The last 20 years were dominated by the four of us (Nadal, Federer, Djokovic, Murray). When my biggest rivals retired, there was a gap with the new generation. And many people have struggled to accept that Federer or Nadal are no longer playing. But I am still here, trying to represent my generation."

About Stan Wawrinka and his defeat in Roland Garros 2015

"It was one of my most painful defeats because at that time I had not yet won Roland Garros and the absence of Nadal gave me many opportunities to win it for the first time. But then Stan Wawrinka played incredible tennis, sometimes we joke about that final and I tell him that the reason he played so well in that final was because of his pants. In all seriousness, he is an incredible player and I admire him a lot as a person. I think he is one of the most underrated players. He has won a gold medal at the Olympics, three Grand Slams. He has had an incredible career, he is 40 years old, with knee operations and still plays tennis."

A potential collaboration with Juan Martín del Potro?

"For now, I am happy with my team, but you never know about the future. Del Potro is a great friend, I really like his values, and I had the honor of being at his farewell match in Argentina and being the last player he competed against. And it meant a lot to me when he came to see me in Miami and was in my box, so you never know."

The sacrifice of being one of the best in your sport

"This is an individual sport, and you need to be always at 100% physically and mentally. The energy a tennis player needs in their professional career goes beyond hitting balls on the court. It takes up a lot of your time and many years of your life. It's okay because ultimately it's your choice. We are fortunate to do what we love. Many of us love this sport and are rewarded for it. But at the same time, it's not easy because you face many challenges and have to cope with the length of a tennis season, which has the longest calendar in sports, spending a lot of time away from home without seeing your family. It depends on each person, but it drains you a lot, even though you are doing something you are passionate about," says Djokovic, who, with Alcaraz absent, is now under the spotlight.
 

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Djokovic: "Alcaraz ya ha llegado al nivel tenístico del Big-3"