Carlos Alcaraz has made it clear that he wanted to break Novak Djokovic’s records but also confessed the impossibility of the task.
Alcaraz’s coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero praised his pupil while claiming the best surface of his charge is hard courts and not clay.
Alcaraz is a 2-time major champion, having sealed victories at the 2022 US Open and the 2023 Wimbledon Championships.
The 21-year-old defeated Casper Ruud in four sets in the final in New York to bag his maiden Grand Slam title and become the youngest World No. 1 in the history of ATP.
He then overcame Djokovic in a thrilling 5-set Wimbledon classic last year to become the first man to beat the 7-time Wimbledon champion in a completed match at the Wimbledon Center court since 2013.
Djokovic secured the other three major titles in 2023 as he took his major tally to a men’s record 24 titles – surpassing his greatest rival Rafael Nadal who stopped on 22.
Alcaraz divulged in February that Djokovic’s remarkable GS total is something that drives his mind and fuels his hunger.
“Obviously, I keep thinking about Nole’s 24 Grand Slams, that’s clear,” he said ahead of the Argentina Open in Buenos Aires.
“I’m a very ambitious guy and I always want to think big, and I dream big, obviously Djokovic’s 24 is a goal at the end of my career. Now let’s wait to see where I get to, because maybe I get to five, maybe I stay at two.
“However, it is something that is inevitable to think about. I am very competitive and that is also what drives me to the highest level to try to be at the same level as the Big Three. The truth is that I dream big.”
In an interview with BBC Sport, Alcaraz reiterated his big goals when asked if he is still chasing Djokovic’s major tally.
“Yes, of course. I am an ambitious guy,” replied the Murcia-native.
“I know it is almost impossible to break Novak’s records but I’m playing tennis for myself, for joy and I want to do great things. I want to be part of tennis history.”
Ferrero endorsed the mentality of his pupil: “What I like most is him thinking big and not just thinking small. To be one of the greatest you have to think big.
“It’s going to be very hard to break records but we’re here to try to do as well as we can.”
The former world No 1 and Roland Garros champion, who has coached Alcaraz since 2019, backed Alcaraz to collect titles on Parisian clay in his career, but argued terre battue is not his charge’s favorite surface.
“I think his best surface right now is a hard court,” said Ferrero.
“He’s developed on these courts but we cannot avoid [that] the clay court is where he was born. I think he will win Roland Garros at least once – he has the game to do it.”