Carlos Alcaraz: Roger Federer is the 'Lionel Messi of tennis' for his talent and 'ease with which he plays'

ByRob Hemingway

Updated 14/02/2023 at 17:49 GMT

Carlos Alcaraz, in Argentina for the Buenos Aires Open, was asked - perhaps unsurprisingly, given which country he is currently in - which tennis player he would compare to footballing GOAT Lionel Messi. He opted for childhood hero Roger Federer, with the Swiss receiving Alcaraz's plaudits for the "ease with which he plays". Alcaraz also wants to copy Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal.

Carlos Alcaraz has shared his belief that Roger Federer is the 'Lionel Messi of tennis' for his talent and "ease with which he plays".

Alcaraz has often talked about the influence Federer had on him growing up, and it's clear at times watching the US Open champion, that the Swiss's influence on tennis - despite being retired - still endures.

Alcaraz is in Argentina for the Buenos Aires Open, and - fielding a question about who could be the tennis version of Lionel Messi - dived right in.

Tennis

Madrid Open: Are Nadal, Djokovic, Alcaraz and Raducanu playing?

18 hours ago

"Roger, because of the talent he has and the ease with which he plays," the Spaniard told Argentinean outlet Ole.

It isn't, however, just Federer that Alcaraz admires in the tennis world, as though the Swiss is one rival he no longer has to think about, two of the 'Big 3' - Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal - are still active and as driven as ever as 2023 begins to unravel, with the former winning his tenth Australian Open crown last month.

Alcaraz is clear that these two are the benchmark for his own game.

• 'I feel torn' - Serena admits to ongoing thoughts of a comeback
• Wu wins Dallas Open to become first Chinese player to win an ATP Tour title
• Bencic claims Abu Dhabi title after saving three match points against Samsonova

"I want to continue winning many Grand Slams and for that I have to pay attention to Djokovic and Rafa, because the years go by and they continue to win those tournaments and continue to give their best level.

"And that is what I would like to me: keep myself at the best level as the years go by."

'It hurts not to have someone like Federer on the court anymore' - Alcaraz

In keeping with his homage to the legends of tennis, Alcaraz also paid tribute to Argentinean Juan Martin Del Potro, the US Open champion from 2009 who retired from tennis at the Buenos Aires Open this time last year due to a recurring knee problem.

"Juan Martín is one of the great tennis players that tennis has had and I would have liked very much to play against him."

Spanish tennis player Carlos Alcaraz hits the ball during a training session ahead of the ATP 250 Argentina Open in Buenos Aires on February 11, 2023.

Image credit: Getty Images

Alcaraz, the No. 1 seed in Buenos Aires, will face either Laslo Djere or Fabio Fognini in his first match this year, having withdrawn from the Australian Open with injury.

- - -

The 2023 French Open will be live on discovery+, the Eurosport app and at eurosport.co.uk

ATP Monte Carlo

‘Not possible’ - Alcaraz withdraws from Monte-Carlo Masters with arm injury

09/04/2024 at 14:44

ATP Monte Carlo

‘Older and slower’ – Leconte thinks Djokovic will struggle to match Alcaraz and Sinner

09/04/2024 at 07:14

ATP Monte Carlo

Exclusive: Alcaraz says he must 'trust' his ankle as he prepares for Monte Carlo

07/04/2024 at 07:39