Alcaraz Calls Djokovic's Grand Slam Dominance 'Brutality' Ahead of US Open
Carlos Alcaraz has described Novak Djokovic's Grand Slam dominance as "an act of brutality," as the Serbian bids to win a record-breaking 25th major title at the US Open.
Djokovic, 37, stands alone in the men's game with 24 Grand Slam victories, and his recent success, including wins at the French, Australian, and US Opens in 2023, has cemented his fearsome reputation on the court.
Ahead of the final Grand Slam of the year, Alcaraz, the reigning US Open champion, expressed his awe at Djokovic's longevity and continued success at the top of the sport, contrasting it with his own relatively short period of success.
"It is an act of brutality being totally honest," Alcaraz said to the press. "What I can say... I can speak just to myself. I am very happy with my daily work to have the opportunity to win these titles as much as possible. I am 21 years old and I have already won four [Grand Slams], but I am hoping it won't stop here."
He continued, "A lot of people are saying that if I have already won four, how many I will be able to win in the future... but it won't count much if you have won four now and that stops and you won't evolve."
The young Spaniard highlighted Djokovic's dedication to continuous improvement as a key factor in his remarkable career. "My task is to keep growing and improving to win as many as possible, because that's my aim," he said. "It is what Djokovic has done during his whole career... he always wanted to keep improving when he played these kinds of tournaments, to give his best version. That's what he has always achieved and that's why a lot of people admire him. Let's hope he won't be able to continue winning more titles. Let's wait and see, but hopefully, we will be able to continue with this path."
Alcaraz also touched upon the controversy surrounding Jannik Sinner, who was cleared to play at the US Open despite a positive doping test. Opinion has been divided on the decision to allow Sinner to compete, with some arguing that other players have been banned for similar infractions. Alcaraz acknowledged the sensitive nature of the issue and indicated that there might be more to the story than meets the eye.
"It is a very sensitive and serious issue," he said. "I think there is some information 'behind' that a lot of people don't know, and I include myself because I don't know. It is very difficult to speak about it. He tested positive, but there have been some reasons that we don't know that allowed him to play. There is not much I can say about it. At the end, he was innocent, or they consider him innocent, therefore Jannik will play in the tournament and there is not much else to say and won't be speaking too much else about it."
Alcaraz kicks off his US Open campaign on Tuesday against Australia's Li Tu, aiming to continue his own impressive rise in the world of tennis while navigating the shadow of Djokovic's extraordinary reign.
