Carlos Alcaraz 'a bit jealous' that Roger Federer didn't watch his first-round Wimbledon win over Jeremy Chardy

ByJames Walker-Roberts

Updated 05/07/2023 at 07:17 GMT

World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz made an impressive start to his Wimbledon campaign as he beat Jeremy Chardy in straight sets. Alcaraz said he hopes Roger Federer will watch him in the future, after the 20-time Grand Slam champion was present on Centre Court instead of Court One. Alcaraz also spoke about his ambitions to win Wimbledon this summer as he aims to rival Novak Djokovic for the title.

Carlos Alcaraz joked that he was “jealous” that Roger Federer wasn’t watching him as he blazed his way through the first round at Wimbledon.

Eight-time champion Federer was in attendance at the All England Club on Tuesday for a special ceremony to celebrate his achievements.

However, he was in the Royal Box on Centre Court where Elena Rybakina started her title defence, rather than on Court One where Alcaraz was playing.

ATP Rome

Are Nadal, Alcaraz, Djokovic playing Italian Open? When does it start?

17 hours ago

“After the match I was with the phone checking everything I have, all the stories, all the posts, I saw that Roger Federer was here. I was a little bit jealous,” said Alcaraz with a smile after his win over Jeremy Chardy.

“Honestly, I want Roger Federer to watch one of my matches obviously. I wish to talk a little bit with him. For me would be amazing.

“I hope to see him around more than once.”

Alcaraz has taken the tennis world by storm over the last 18 months, winning his first Grand Slam title at the 2022 US Open and reaching world No. 1.

He didn’t get the chance to face Federer before he retired last September, but said he was watching clips of the 20-time Grand Slam champion to help him improve on grass.

Roger Federer at a special Wimbledon ceremony on Centre Court

Image credit: Getty Images

Alcaraz also hopes to follow in Federer’s footsteps by winning Wimbledon.

“To win the tournament, that's the main goal right now for me,” said Alcaraz, who won his first grass title at Queen’s last month.

“I have a lot of confidence right now. The main goal for me this tournament is to win it.”

• Alcaraz beats Chardy to reach second round
• Wilander: Alcaraz is so important for our sport

Alcaraz has said he hopes to meet defending champion Novak Djokovic in the final.

When the pair met in the French Open semi-finals it was Djokovic who came out on top after Alcaraz suffered with cramp in the third set.

But world No. 1 Alcaraz says he expects things to be different if they face off again.

“As I said, the main reason that I had cramp in the semi-final was the tension that I had facing Novak in the semi-final of a Grand Slam. I'm sure the experience is really important part on that.

“I think I learned a lot from that match to the next time I'm going to face Novak. It's going to be different for me. I'm going to deal the pressure better than I did in the semi-final of French Open.

“Yeah, all I talk with [coach] Juan Carlos [Ferrero] is that, is the pressure, is the tension. I can't play with that tension. As I said, it's going to be different the next time.”

Alcaraz will face Alexandre Muller or Arthur Rinderknech next at SW19.

- - -

Stream daily highlights from Wimbledon at 10pm UK time, as well as the two singles finals live on July 15 and 16, on discovery+, the Eurosport app and at eurosport.com

ATP Madrid

Rublev stuns Alcaraz in huge Madrid Open upset after thrilling fightback, Fritz progresses

01/05/2024 at 22:56

ATP Madrid

'I kept fighting' - Alcaraz survives Struff scare to make quarter-finals, Sinner progresses

30/04/2024 at 20:11

ATP Madrid

Alcaraz braced for 'difficult' Struff rematch after reaching last 16 in Madrid

29/04/2024 at 07:36