Carlos Alcaraz snubs Novak Djokovic and picks 'biggest rival' after Wimbledon win
Carlos Alcaraz has snubbed Novak Djokovic following his Wimbledon triumph
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Carlos Alcaraz believes Jannik Sinner will be his greatest rival in the coming years ahead.
The 20-year-old beat Novak Djokovic to win Wimbledon on Sunday, with that triumph coming less than a year after his success in the US Open.
Alcaraz is world No 1 these days, with Djokovic behind him in second.
But the Spaniard thinks Sinner, who made the semi-finals of the competition in London, poses a bigger threat.
Carlos Alcaraz has named Jannik Sinner as his biggest rival following Wimbledon triumph
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The two men have faced off six times overall, with both players winning three matches each.
Alcaraz told TYC Sports: "Having someone there, with whom you fight, with whom you have that battle, that beautiful rivalry, is important to maintain motivation for so long.
“Right now, I think I have it and I’m not afraid to say it: for me, it’s Sinner at the moment.
"That beautiful rivalry that we have, those big games that we have played, on big stages.
"As the years go by there will be better ones and we will fight for the big titles.”
Many feel Alcaraz is already the real deal.
Aged just 20, with two Grand Slams already secured, there's no telling what the youngster will be able to achieve in the future.
But Alcaraz insists he still has much to learn and believes there's always room for improvement, despite his success so far.
“I need to polish many things," added the rising star.
"Like Djokovic when he started his career and he had already won four or five Grand Slams, just like Rafa [Nadal] or [Roger] Federer.
"They had a style and they have been improving it.
“You are never perfect, you never reach your 100 per cent, new things always come up that you have to improve, adapting to the circumstances of the moment.
"I consider that everything I do, I can do better."
While Alcaraz feels Sinner is his main rival right now, Boris Becker believes Djokovic can't be written off just yet.
And the German also thinks the rivalry between the two best players in the world is just getting started.
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Carlos Alcaraz was too strong for Novak Djokovic in Sunday's Wimbledon final
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"I don't think it's the end of the Djokovic era, and I hope not, because that was an excellent example of how a tennis match should be," said Becker.
"We won millions of new fans thanks to that, and I hope they can repeat that in New York or Melbourne.
"I don't think Djokovic will stop performing.
"The question is about motivation: what keeps Djokovic going? Yes, certainly on the 24th [Grand Slam], then he would be the best along with Margaret Court as far as 'majors' are concerned.
"He already is in the men's category, but of course he wants to be in the general."
Alcaraz's next tournament will be the Hopman Cup, with the new Wimbledon champion poised to team up with Rebeka Masarova as Spain prepare to lock horns with Belgium and Croatia in the group stage of the competition.
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