Copycat Carlos? Why Carlos Alcaraz even sees Novak Djokovic similarities in his new serve

Carlos Alcaraz

Copycat Carlos? Why Alcaraz even sees Djokovic similarities in his new serve

Spaniard, 22, aims to become youngest player to complete career Grand Slam

Kelly Defina/Getty Images

Carlos Alcaraz is chasing his first Australian Open crown. By ATP Staff

Many tennis fans have done a double take watching clips of Carlos Alcaraz’s new service motion on social media in recent days. ‘Where have I seen that serve before?’, they’ve asked.

Could the Spaniard be channeling the technique of someone with even more Grand Slam titles than himself?

When a reporter asked about the new motion in his Australian Open pre-tournament press conference Friday, Alcaraz was ready to have a little fun.

“You wanted to say it's really similar to Djokovic serve (smiling). I know you want to,” Alcaraz bantered. “I wasn't thinking about making the same serve as Djokovic. But at the end, I can even see the similarities.

“I think everyone has to make changes, small details. For me the serve is something that I really want to be better every year, in every tournament. I'm just putting constant work on the serve.”

Alcaraz is not in danger of losing his grip on the No. 1 PIF ATP Ranking this fortnight, even if rival Jannik Sinner completes an Australian Open three-peat. But that doesn’t mean the 22-year-old is lacking purpose at Melbourne Park: He will attempt to become the youngest player in history to complete the career Grand Slam.

“As I said before, this is my main goal for this year,” said Alcaraz, who already has won $60m in his young career. “The first tournament is the main goal. I made a really good pre-season, just to be in good shape. I'm just hungry for the title, hungry to do a really good result here. I'm just getting ready as much as I can. I'm really excited about the tournament beginning.”

Reflecting on the departure of Juan Carlos Ferrero from his team, Alcaraz does not believe the change will impact his chances at the Open.

“I have plenty of confidence with the team that I have right now… I'm really grateful for the seven years I've been with Juan Carlos. I learned a lot. Probably thanks to him I'm the player that I am right now.

“We closed this chapter in mutual. We are still friends, good relationship. But we just decided like this.”

Alcaraz, who last year fell in the quarter-finals to Novak Djokovic, plays his first match against Australian Adam Walton on Day 1, Sunday. He is seeded to meet another Aussie, Alex de Minaur, in the quarter-finals. With Sinner and Djokovic in the bottom half of the draw, potential semi-final opponents for Alcaraz include No. 3 Alexander Zverev, No. 7 Felix Auger-Aliassime and No. 11 Daniil Medvedev.

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