Carlos Alcaraz has separated himself from the chasing pack and is performing on the identical stage as 23-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic, mentioned Alexander Zverev on Wednesday after his US Open quarter-final defeat to the Spaniard.
Zverev was as soon as considered as the perfect guess to interrupt the “Large Three’s” stranglehold on males’s tennis however the 26-year-old German has did not kick on and continues to be in search of a primary Grand Slam title.
With Roger Federer in retirement and Rafa Nadal more likely to finish his profession after subsequent season, Alcaraz has joined Djokovic on the prime of the boys’s sport, and Zverev is maybe greatest positioned to judge the facility shift having misplaced to each just lately.
“I performed Novak in Cincinnati (final month), I performed Carlos right here. They’re very related from the extent of the sport,” Zverev instructed reporters after defending champion Alcaraz outclassed him 6-3 6-2 6-4.
“There are some issues Novak does higher; there are some issues Carlos does higher. I believe they’re at a stage of their very own in the meanwhile.”
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At 36, Djokovic is taking part in a few of his greatest tennis and is chasing a twenty fourth Grand Slam title to match Margaret Courtroom’s all-time singles document.
The duo have dominated the tour this season with the Serb successful the Australian and French Opens whereas Alcaraz, 20, upstaged him at Wimbledon for his second Grand Slam crown.
“The opposite guys have gotten to catch up,” Zverev mentioned. “It’s so simple as that.”
Zverev, who reached the semi-finals at Roland Garros this 12 months, was affected by an ankle harm final season however mentioned a hamstring problem put paid to his hopes at Flushing Meadows.
“I couldn’t push off on my serve anymore. My serve pace was down lots in comparison with different days,” he added.
“In opposition to him, I wanted a superb serving day in any other case it will have been troublesome. My greatest weapon was taken away after the primary set.
“It’s troublesome to even compete if you happen to don’t have that.”