Former Croatian tennis star Goran Ivanisevic has named two players who he thinks are capable of challenging Carlos Alcaraz at the US Open.
Invanisevic is Novak Djokovic’s coach and is also backing his man to clinch another Grand Slam but along with the Serb and Alcaraz, he believes Jannik Sinner is also a serious contender to win the title.
“Alcaraz is a story by himself, and Sinner is the only one who can threaten him at the US Open, along with Novak,” Ivanisevic told Croatian media in quotes translated by Tennis Majors.
“The game that Sinner plays does not suit Alcaraz and they have had very interesting matches so far. Also, if Medvedev is on his day, he is also a phenomenal player for me. Novak remains the only ‘dinosaur’…the rest [of the contenders] are all young guys.”
The 51-year-old also talked about the Wimbledon 2023 final and he had nothing but praise-worthy words for Alcaraz calling him a “miracle”.
“I’m still a little in shock from that final. [Djokovic] said it all in his speech after the match: some finals he should have lost, then he won them, and some he should have won, then he lost. In the end, Novak had a lot of chances that he didn’t take.
“Alcaraz played braver, more decisively when he needed to, he was better that day and won the match.
“As a person he is phenomenal, and as a player I am speechless, it’s a miracle. The energy he brings to the court, the way he plays… He’s always smiling, even when he loses, it’s amazing.”
It must be noted that Alcaraz defeated Djokovic in the Wimbledon 2023 final after a long five-set battle which lasted for more than four hours.
With the victory, the 20-year-old also ended the Serb’s 14-match winning streak at the venue and became the first player other than Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray and Roger Federer to clinch the title in the last 20 years.