Carlos Alcaraz downplayed the hype surrounding and stated he still has much to demonstrate to reach the level of stardom enjoyed by legends such as Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer (The Big Three), owing to their significant contributions to the sport.
Alcaraz is currently competing in the 2024 Argentina Open in Buenos Aires, where he holds the defending champion title. On Thursday (February 15) the Spaniard secured his spot in the quarterfinals of the tournament with a victory over local qualifier Camilo Ugo Carabelli in the second round, following a first-round bye.
After his recent win, Alcaraz was asked about his thoughts on being considered a ‘star’ by fellow tennis players. The World No. 2 responded modestly to the claim made by his colleagues.
"I don't see myself as a star; I see myself as a very good player," he remarked after the match, as reported by MARCA.
Alcaraz has achieved remarkable success at the young age of 20. The Spaniard has clinched an impressive 12 titles so far, including two Grand Slams. The first was the 2022 US Open, where he defeated Casper Ruud, followed by the 2023 Wimbledon Championships, where he triumphed over Djokovic.
Furthermore, four of Alcaraz’s titles have been earned at Masters 1000 events in Miami (2022), Indian Wells (2023), and Madrid (2022, 2023).
After his US Open victory at the age of 19, Alcaraz also became the youngest World No. 1 in ATP history.
Despite the numerous accolades he has amassed in his young career, he acknowledges that he still has much more to prove to attain the level of Djokovic, Nadal, Federer, and a few others.
"For me, the stars are Djokovic, Rafa, and Federer, among others. While I have achieved great things, I still have a long way to go to be considered one," Carlos Alcaraz expressed.
