Laver Cup: Carlos Alcaraz hopes Jannik Sinner rivalry will match that of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic

Published 21/09/2024 at 21:45 GMT

Carlos Alcaraz admitted that he hears people claiming his rivalry with Jannik Sinner will go on to match that of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. And the Spaniard "hopes" that it will continue to develop on the same trajectory as the pair completed a clean sweep of Grand Slams this season. Alcaraz also conceded that he sometimes struggles to stay motivated for tournaments.

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Carlos Alcaraz hopes that his budding rivalry with Jannik Sinner will blossom to the heights of that between Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.

The young duo made a clean sweep of the Grand Slams this year, with Sinner picking up the Australian and US Open, while Alcaraz scooped the French Open and Wimbledon.

And as the glittering careers of Nadal and Djokovic draw to a close - with Federer retired as of 2022 - Sinner and Alcaraz have been posited by many as their natural successors.

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After defeating Ben Shelton 6-4 6-4 on Day 2 of the Laver Cup, Alcaraz admitted that he shares the same view, hoping that their rivalry will continue to grow.

“Well a lot of people talk about it and I hear it,” said Alcaraz in his post-match press conference. “I’m not going to lie, I hope so. I hope that our rivalry is going to be or almost be like the big three had during their whole careers.

“I don’t know. This is the first year that we shared all the Grand Slams. Hopefully it’s going to keep going like that, sharing great moments, fighting for the great tournaments, the Grand Slams, Masters 1000.

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“So let’s see how it’s going to be in the future, the next few years, if we are going to stay like that at this level. I think we are going to build or create a relationship off the court as well.

“So hopefully I have him here on the tour for a long time because he pushes me to be a better player every day. He pushes me to practice at 100% just to try to beat him in the next matches.

“So it’s great and hopefully we’ll have that rivalry that the big three had in their careers.”

Federer, the architect of the Laver Cup, himself made the comparison back in March, calling the pair “superstars”.

"I don’t like to put the pressure on these players because honestly aiming for 20 [major victories] was not something I did, Rafa did, or Novak did," Federer told GQ.

"Of course you have the players that you think are going to win multiple slams.

“Somebody has to win slams and naturally they’re going to win them nicely and do it perfectly and they’re going to be the ones carrying the game and become the superstars of our sport, which some are already announcing themselves to do: [Carlos] Alcaraz, [Jannik] Sinner, and so forth.”

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Alcaraz struggles to stay motivated

Even at the age of 21, Alcaraz conceded that he sometimes struggles to stay motivated, despite wanting to win “every match”.

At the same time, the Spaniard revelled in the “unique experience” of the Laver Cup, enjoying the camaraderie among his fellow Team Europe stars.

But when asked about how much he had already achieved in his career and whether it was difficult to stay incentivised, the four-time Grand Slam champion was frank in his assessment.

“Honestly, it is difficult,” admitted Alcaraz. “I mean, sometimes I don’t feel motivated at all and it is a difficult moment.

“I’m not going to lie, I’ve been feeling this a few times already that I don’t want to go to that tournament.

“I’m an ambitious guy. I always want to win every match that I go to but I’ve said many times, my best shows up when I smile, I’m enjoying it on court and sometimes it’s difficult to find that rhythm and that good feeling.”

Watch and stream the 2024 Laver Cup live on Eurosport and discovery+

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