Carlos Alcaraz of same 'calibre' as Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, says David Ferrer

ByAndrew Wright

Updated 25/02/2024 at 19:11 GMT

David Ferrer said he isn't worried by Carlos Alcaraz's recent form and believes the 20-year-old Spaniard is the same "calibre" of player as Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. Alcaraz hasn't won a title since Wimbledon last year and was knocked out of the Australian Open in the quarter-finals but Ferrer stressed he "still has a lot of time" to reach his potential.

David Ferrer believes Carlos Alcaraz is of the same “calibre” as Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic and backed his fellow Spaniard to rediscover the kind of form that saw him clinch two Grand Slams at the age of just 20.

Alcaraz, who also became the youngest player to ascend to the top of the world rankings after his 2022 US Open triumph, hasn’t lifted silverware since his thrilling five-set win over Djokovic in last year’s Wimbledon final.

The Spaniard has made just one final since and exited the Australian Open in the quarter-finals after losing to Alexander Zverev in four sets in Melbourne.

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Still the world No. 2, Ferrer has no doubt his compatriot will return to the winners’ circle and pointed to the fact he has already achieved so much.

Ferrer was an established player on tour when Nadal and Djokovic came through the ranks and added that he doesn’t remember them being as prolific as Alcaraz in the early part of their careers.

“It is logical that we want him to win everything and in the last year and a half he has played at a very high level, having won two Grand Slams,” Ferrer said.

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“At the Australian Open he was playing well, but he had a match in which he did not start well against a top 10 [player] and, among players of that stature, you can’t lose anything.

“Now Carlos is in a year of transition, a year where it is logical that there will be more pressure because you have to maintain the high level and also because his rivals know him better.

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“That’s why I say that he is a special player, of the calibre of Rafa Nadal, Roger Federer or Novak Djokovic. But he still has a lot of time and you can’t ask him to win everything.

“I don’t remember Rafa or Djokovic winning everything at that age.”

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