Carlos Alcaraz names Novak Djokovic as tennis greatest of all time ahead of Laver Cup

Choosing Djokovic over Nadal

Ahead of his Laver Cup appearance in London with Team Europe, world number three Carlos Alcaraz addressed the debate regarding the greatest men's player in tennis history. The 23-year-old from El Palmar explained that while Rafael Nadal was his childhood role model, Novak Djokovic holds the definitive statistical record. Djokovic has accumulated 24 Grand Slam singles titles, 101 ATP singles titles, seven year-end championships, 40 Masters 1000 trophies, and Olympic gold. Nadal concluded his career in November 2024 with 22 Grand Slam titles and an Olympic gold medal, while Roger Federer finished with 20 Grand Slam titles. Djokovic also became the only player to win the 16 most prestigious tournament titles in men's singles tennis, including all four Grand Slams, the Masters, Davis Cup, and all nine Masters 1000 events, after defeating Alcaraz in the 2024 Olympic final.

When I was a kid, Nadal was my role model. I wanted to be like him, but in terms of statistics, there is no doubt that Djokovic is the best in history, because he has won absolutely everything, and not once, but twice.

Rapid-fire selections and rivalries

During a promotional questionnaire conducted by TNT in London, Alcaraz answered a series of rapid questions regarding his career, rivals, and personal preferences. When asked to choose the greatest player in women's tennis history, the Spaniard named Serena Williams. Alcaraz identified Jannik Sinner, currently sidelined with an injury, as the most difficult opponent he faces on the professional circuit. He stated that he misses competing against the Italian and credited the rivalry with pushing his own development as a player. Alcaraz recalled his victory against Sinner at Roland Garros in 2025, where he recovered from multiple match points down, as the most intense match of his career. When asked to choose a dream doubles partner, Alcaraz selected Federer from within tennis, while choosing American actor Leonardo DiCaprio when prompted for a celebrity outside the sport.

Sinner has pushed me to be a better tennis player.

Return from injury and match scheduling

The Laver Cup, initiated by Roger Federer, serves as competitive preparation for Alcaraz before the ATP Tour moves to the Asian swing. The event is his second competitive outing following a nearly four-month recovery period from a wrist injury. Alcaraz resumed competition at the US Open, where he reached the quarterfinals before falling to Ben Shelton, who later lost the final to Alexander Zverev. In addition to selecting Wimbledon as his favorite Grand Slam tournament, Alcaraz raised concerns about late-night scheduling on tour. He stated that matches running past midnight cause excessive fatigue and called on tournament organizers to establish reasonable cutoff points for evening sessions.

I would like them to change the schedules with a cutoff time to finish at 23:00 or look for a better solution.