Carlos Alcaraz reveals why it is tough to execute his trademark drop shot against Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal

Carlos Alcaraz has admitted that it is always hard to pull off his trademark drop shot against the experienced Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. Alcaraz has startled other opponents on several occasions with the shot, but hasn't had the same success against Nadal and Djokovic.

Alcaraz has a range of tricks under his belt, with the drop shot being the most effective. The former World No. 1 has often caught his opponents off guard during intense rallies with his well-guided dinks that just climb over the net.

In a conversation with Tennis TV, Alcaraz revealed that he would wait for the players to be far off the baseline in order to execute the drop shot effectively.

"I'm trying to see when the opponent is really far off the baseline to drop shots and if they reach the ball, then a lob or passing shot is easy for me," divulged Alcaraz.

While the Spaniard is one of the best on tour to execute the shot, he acknowledged that it is not easy to pull it off against the 22-time Grand Slam champions, Nadal and Djokovic. He opined that they would just predict whenever he prepared for a drop shot and therefore would run toward the net beforehand.

"Rafa, I mean it's tough to win a drop shot against him or against Djokovic as well, it's tough. I think they see when I'm going to hit a drop shot. They see before I hit it. And ofcourse they run before, you know, They always reach the ball. They are very good at that. They hit another drop shot, so they win the point," the 19-year-old said.

---

Rafael Nadal's uncle Toni hails Carlos Alcaraz, calls him a "champion"

Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal at the Mutua Madrid Open

Rafael Nadal's uncle Toni recently showered praise on fellow Spaniard Carlos Alacaraz, calling him a "champion" for the future.

During the course of an educational meeting, Toni conveyed that the current World No. 2 is a certified winner. But he also asserted that his nephew is still out there, carrying Spanish tennis for the time being.

"[In Carlos Alcaraz], we have a champion for the following years. [But] Rafa Nadal is still there, although we will see what happens when he recovers from the injury,” he opined.

Both the Spaniards are currently out of action as they recover from their respective injuries. While the 35-year-old last played at the 2023 Australian Open, Alcaraz has not yet commenced the new season; his last campaign was the 2022 Paris Masters.