Monfils on Alcaraz: ‘I see him as Novak, as Rafa, as Roger’

Gael Monfils has stated he sees Carlos Alcaraz as the combination of Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer. Alcaraz, 21, is already a four-time Grand Slam champion and he has been ticking the right boxes. The Spaniard has won the Roland Garros and Wimbledon this season and has been in red-hot form.

Furthermore, the youngster clinched the Silver medal at the Paris Olympics, in his debut at the Games. Earlier, Novak Djokovic had stated Alcaraz has got the best qualities of the Big Three – Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer.

Monfils took on Alcaraz in the round of 32 in the ongoing Cincinnati Masters, in which the Spaniard took the first set by 6-4. The second set was taken to a tiebreaker but the match was suspended due to rain.

“Big, obviously, big. He is a complete athlete, a tonne of speed, endurance, power, and then his tennis, of course, is quite complete too,” Monfils said. “Backhand, forehand, it’s quite hard to see where you can sit [and wait]. He improved a lot in the return, serving big. He’s just a really, really complete player.”

The Frenchman compared Alcaraz with the legendary trio.

“At that moment, of course, I see him as Novak, as Rafa, as Roger,” Monfils said. “So for me, he’s just a little bit younger, but he is already [like] those legends.”

Monfils said he will cherish the opportunity to play against Alcaraz and he will remember the match for a couple of years.

“For me, it’s always cool to play such a big star like Carlos or Jannik,” Monfils said. “Of course, my age it was Novak or whoever, but to play those youngsters, it’s always a pleasure. Tomorrow, it’s going to be great fun for me. Obviously, really tough. But it’s going to be something that, of course, I will remember in a couple years.”

“I love the fans. I love the energy,” Monfils said. “Every time. I always say when I come back to the States, it’s always feels like a second home for me.”