Carlos Alcaraz told it will take him ’20 years’ to break Novak Djokovic’s Grand Slam record
Australian tennis legend Paul McNamee believes it will take Carlos Alcaraz 20 years to fulfil his ambition of breaking Novak Djokovic’s Grand Slam record.
The former doubles world No 1 also thinks Djokovic “cemented” his status as the greatest player of all time by winning the gold medal at the Paris Olympics.
Alcaraz, who turned 21 in May, has already collected four Grand Slam titles and he has made no secret of the fact he is targeting Djokovic’s records. Djokovic has won an all-time men’s record of 24 majors.
“Obviously, I keep thinking about Nole’s 24 Grand Slams, that’s clear,” Alcaraz admitted in February.
“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.
“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.”
The Spaniard won his maiden major at the 2022 US Open and his second at the 2023 Wimbledon Championships, before adding his third and fourth at Roland Garros and Wimbledon this year.
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McNamee cast doubt over the prospect of Alcaraz surpassing Djokovic’s major tally and discussed the importance of the Serb’s Olympics triumph to his legacy.
“It will take 20 years for someone like Alcaraz to break Novak’s Grand Slam record – it’s not impossible, but it’s unlikely,” the Australian told Sport Klub.
“So, in twenty years, Novak will be talked about as the greatest of all time. Forget all personal affinities, his biography is the greatest.
“An argument could be made that the Olympics are not that important, but I don’t think so, I think they were very important, especially for people who claimed that Novak was not the GOAT. It was definitely decided in Paris who is the GOAT.
“Personally, I never called him the greatest until the Olympics, I said that everyone should finish their careers first, but the gold at the Olympics cemented Novak’s status already now.
“An enormous success, not only because of the gold, but also the way he got it – he played a fantastic match against an outstanding tennis player like Alcaraz.”
The four-time Grand Slam champion in men’s doubles also feels Djokovic’s decision not to retire after the Olympics means the 37-year-old is not close to the end of his career.
“If he didn’t retire after the Olympics, that means he will play for a while longer. It was a moment he could have chosen, but he didn’t,” McNamee added.
“I think one of the things that keeps him going is that he enjoys playing in front of his kids, for them to see him on the court. Family is very important in the Balkans, Stefan and Tara come to see him and he loves it. He will surely play next year.”
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