Novak Djokovic appears to be now very relax and enjoying all the GOAT race arguments however, Billie Jean King warns Carlos Alcaraz could come in his way of cementing greatest player of all-time status.
Alcaraz edged aside Djokovic as ATP #1 earlier this year, arising as the new face of the game that was completely dominated by Big Four i.e., Federer, Nadal, Djokovic and Murray.
Though, the world No. 1 opened his account by recording triumphant runs at 2022 US Open and this year’s Wimbledon but he still has a long way to go in order to break into the ultimate champions of the game.
Rated by many as the most complete player the tennis has seen at 20, the Spaniard will have to win for over a decade to match the success of Big 3 of the game. On Alcaraz and the current GOATS, Bill Jean King gave an engaging interview to Sky Sports which once again has earned the exclusive rights to the New York major.
“The men have been totally spoiled with Federer and Nadal and Djokovic,” said King.
She continued, “Djokovic is probably going to end up as the greatest (of those three) as I think he is going to keep winning Grand Slams. Then you have Alcaraz, who I adore. I first saw him when he was 18 and I said, I will say now, he is going to be the greatest ever, unless he gets hurt.
“He has brought the drop shot back and in the 1980s it used to drive me crazy that no one would use the drop shot. Bring them in… they are on the baseline. Every generation gets better. I hate it when old players say they could win now, but are you kidding, we wouldn’t get a point.
“My mother always said ‘keep moving or it’s over’ and she was right.”
King also believes the women’s game is in a good place ahead of season-ending Slam, despite the lack of competition on the WTA Tour lack which some think is a problem for women’s tennis but King begs to differ here.
“You can’t win with the media,” added the 39-time Grand Slam winner and living legend of the game who helped to change women’s tennis forever by fighting to end the pay-gap between male and female players who now get equal prize money at majors.
“When you have superstars, they say we don’t have rivalries and that is what we need.
“This happens in every generation. When there is a rivalry, they say the game has no depth, you only have these two players.
“Now they are saying we have no superstars, but the depth of the women’s game is the best ever. We don’t have that rivalry yet, but you have to let it percolate and give it time. It always shakes out. I have lived through six generations and it is always fascinating,” said the 79-year old icon.