Novak Djokovic offered lavish praise for Carlos Alcaraz during pre tournament interviews in Madrid, declaring that the youngster is already performing at a standard comparable with the era-defining trio of Federer, Nadal, and himself.
Djokovic highlighted Alcaraz’s achievements at twenty one years old, including Grand Slam titles on three surfaces, as exceeding milestones the Serbian reached at a similar age.
He added that modern depth and physicality amplify the accomplishment, arguing that scoring consistently against contemporary baseliners demands greater athleticism than during the early two thousands.
The comment drew enthusiastic reaction on social networks, with analysts debating statistical validity and fans reviving goat discussions that seemed dormant since Nadal’s retirement.
Djokovic later tempered expectations, advising observers to allow Alcaraz space to grow without relentless comparison, a lesson he learned under weighty succession narratives after Pete Sampras.
Regardless of future tallies, the veteran believes Alcaraz already inspires a new wave of junior players to embrace fearless all-court creativity, a legacy that transcends trophy counts.
