Carlos Alcaraz wants to follow in the footsteps of the legendary 'big three' - Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer - by becoming one of the greatest players in tennis history.
The 21-year-old Spanish sensation has already won three Grand Slam titles on different surfaces and is among the favourites to clinch a fourth this month at Wimbledon. Should he succeed, he'll join an elite group of just nine men who have won consecutive singles titles at SW19 in the Open Era.
Speaking to CNN before his straight-sets victory over Mark Lajal in the opening round on Tuesday, Alcaraz confessed his ambition to be counted among the all-time greats. However, to reach such lofty heights, he'll need to sustain the remarkable form he's demonstrated over the past few years for the majority of his career, just as the illustrious 'big three' did.
"When asked about my current dream, I said I want to be one of the best in history. I'm dreaming big," Alcaraz revealed. "I aspire to sit at the same table as the big three, the legends of our sport.
"To realise that dream, I'd like to be surrounded by brands and individuals who share it, who think as ambitiously as I do," he added. "Looking back, I've accomplished significant feats so far, but I don't want to dwell on that, I want to keep moving forward."
If Alcaraz truly wants to emulate the success of tennis' big three, he'll need to become a relentless trophy-winning machine. Djokovic, for instance, has bagged a record 24 Grand Slams, and from 2011 to 2023 he clinched at least two of the four annual majors an impressive seven times.
A win at SW19 this month would be Alcaraz's third Grand Slam victory in the last five tournaments. As the defending champion, the pressure is on him to repeat his success. However, Alcaraz believes that this pressure can work in his favour.
"It doesn't really change too much for me [that I'm the defender champion," the young star said. "It makes it even more special. I'm trying not to think about the pressure I have to defend points or want to go far. The difference compared to last year is that I'm more mature. I know how to play on grass, I have more experience playing on this surface."
Alcaraz's next challenge is a second-round match against Aleksandar Vukic. A win there would pit him against either Borna Coric or Frances Tiafoe.
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