Carlos Alcaraz makes feelings clear on Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic records after French Open triumph
Carlos Alcaraz is on top of the world in the wake of his remarkable French Open triumph
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Carlos Alcaraz believes it will be 'impossible' for him to break records set by the likes of Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic after winning the French Open on Sunday.
The Spaniard beat Alexander Zverev at Roland Garros on Sunday, with the 21-year-old winning 6-3, 2-6, 5-7, 6-1, 6-2 to win a third major of his career.
Alcaraz now has more Grand Slam titles than any other player born in the 1990s.
And many are expecting him to dominate for many years to come as a result.
Carlos Alcaraz was delighted after beating Alexander Zverev to win the French Open on Sunday
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Djokovic is approaching the twilight years of his career, with Nadal is set to retire at the end of the year.
Roger Federer quit tennis in 2022, while Andy Murray's injury issues have prevented him from adding to his own Grand Slam tally.
While Alcaraz is a player on the up, however, chasing greatness is no easy task.
He has a long way to go before he wins 14 French Open titles like Nadal.
And he also has his work cut out when it comes to chasing Djokovic's remarkable haul of 24 majors throughout his career.
Alcaraz, speaking after winning the French Open, has now admitted it will be 'impossible' to emulate the pair.
"Both things are out of the ordinary,” he said.
“You have to be an alien to get it. What Rafa did with 14 is practically impossible.
“The 24 Grand Slams I hope I can but it is almost impossible. Both things are out of the ordinary…
“Before facing this final, he (coach Juan Carlos Ferrero) told me, you’re going to fight for your third Grand Slam title, with everything you have been through, and you know the difficult part of winning a Grand Slam, and Djokovic has 24.
“So it is unbelievable. Right now I can’t think about it.”
Alcaraz also revealed he plans on getting a tattoo of the Eiffel Tower after conquering the French Open for the very first time.
“I have to find the time. But I will do it for sure. It’s going to be on the left ankle," he said.
“You know, Wimbledon was the right one. Here is going to be the left one, I think so with the Eiffel Tower with the date of today. And, yeah, it’s something that I’m gonna do.
“I don’t know if next week or a month or two months, but I will do it.”
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Carlos Alcaraz thinks it will be tough to emulate Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal after his French Open win
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Alcaraz will now set his sights on defending his Wimbledon title, having won the competition last year.
But he's already excited about returning to Roland Garros for the Olympics in July.
“When I come back here to the Olympics I will have flashbacks. It can be very nice, my first Games 40 days after winning my first Roland Garros,” he added.
“I really want to. Fight to give my country a medal, be able to play doubles with my idol Rafa Nadal.
"Let’s fight. Coming back here is going to be a special feeling.”
Carlos Alcaraz plans on getting a special tattoo to mark his French Open triumph
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As for Zverev, meanwhile, the German was disappointed after missing out on the Coupe des Mousquetaires trophy.
“I feel like I did everything I could today. The fifth set, there was some unlucky moments,” he said.
“I heard that at 2-1 the second serve was out. From the HawkEye data, I saw that.
"I break back there, I have break chances, and then in the next service game, a fifth set can go the other way."