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With the retirement of Roger Federer and the impending last lap of Rafael Nadal, the tennis scene is soon shifting towards an era of young talents according to former tennis star Gilles Muller. The absence of legendary names in the ATP Tour has given free rein to Novak Djokovic who has dominated the circuit. However, there is belief in the prowess of the young stars, especially the Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz. The former World No.1 has been one of the many who has beaten the Serbinator in the biggest stages.

After securing a massive victory at the Wimbledon final, Carlos Alcaraz established a strong image. The triumph happened to be more than just a grand slam win for the 20-year-old, as he gained recognition as the biggest rival of Djokovic in the absence of Nadal. Recently, former tennis star Gilles Muller gave an intriguing verdict as he explained how Alcaraz has the potential to be a wall that challenges Nole’s unstoppable run.

Gilles Muller explains how Alcaraz’s potential makes him a strong competitor to Novak Djokovic

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The year 2023 brought amazing opportunities for the Serbian tennis maestro Novak Djokovic. The legend took his chances and grabbed 3 out of 4 grand slam titles along with a record 7th ATP Finals win. During his strong run towards being unstoppable, young Spanish tennis star Carlos Alcaraz happened to be the one to present a tough competition against the tennis star and stopped him from winning the calendar grand slam.

In a recent interview with EssentiallySports, former ATP star Gilles Muller shared his insights on Novak Djokovic’s future in tennis. Along with that, he also surprised fans by identifying Carlos Alcaraz as the Serbinator’s closest rival in the upcoming years. “I think Alcaraz is going to be his biggest rival because Alcaraz has the game. I think all the other guys like Medvedev, Zverev, Tsitsipas, they’re having kind of the same game as Djokovic, playing baseline game, playing far behind the line and I think it’s very tough to beat Djokovic that way,” said Muller.

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Along with mentioning other names who, according to the Luxembourger, have a similar game as Djokovic, he added, “They have done it, but if you look at all the matches, it’s really tough for them to do it that way. Alcaraz is showing different things, he’s using drop shot coming forward, so he’s a bit more unpredictable. That’s why I think Alcaraz is going to be the biggest rival of Djokovic in the next two, three years.” As the tennis world eagerly waits for the upcoming matches that will turn the pages of this anticipated rivalry, Muller’s perspective added a significant point of support for Alcaraz’s potential.

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Former top-15 tennis star’s vision of the budding Djokovic-Alcaraz rivalry

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Earlier this year, former top-15 Spanish player Feliciano Lopez shared his admiration for the 20-year-old tennis sensation Carlos Alcaraz. Keeping in view his young age, he majorly focused on highlighting the young player’s remarkable courage even in high-pressure situations like facing the tennis legend Novak Djokovic in the finals of major events. He commented, “What stands out is not just his skill, but the way this 20-year-old handles pressure. He’s been very impressive. A very humble kid as well – he has the will to learn every single day.”

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Lopez also surprised fans by mentioning that the potential carried by Alcaraz makes him the top player in the world currently. As the tennis world confidently acknowledges the young talent’s strong emergence as a tough competitor, fans eagerly wait for the upcoming tours to see if the young Spaniard holds well with the expectations.

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