Why Carlos Alcaraz is on pace to beat Novak Djokovic's Grand Slam record, and what we can infer from Serb's rivalry with Nadal-Federer

Carlos Alcaraz further enhanced his reputation as the next tennis superstar by outplaying Novak Djokovic in the final at Wimbledon. The young Spaniard successfully defended a Grand Slam title for the first time in his career in what was a statement to the rest of the tour.

Despite his young age of 21, Alcaraz is already mentioned among the greats of the game. The Spaniard is talked about as a potential superstar who could break all the records of the 'Big Three'.

Now with another Major under his belt, Alcaraz has the third most Grand Slam titles among active players after Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. However, the Spaniard is still a long way from Djokovic's tally of 24.

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Carlos Alcaraz has all the tools to beat Novak Djokovic's record of 24 Grand Slam titles

Carlos Alcaraz has a game that suits all surfaces. The Spanish star has already shown his worth in his short career so far, winning a Major on all three kinds of courts. The 21-year-old is just one Australian Open title away from completing a career Grand Slam.

Carlos Alcaraz defended a Grand Slam title for the first time in his career at Wimbledon 2024 - Getty Images

Alcaraz's biggest trait is his self-belief and confidence to use his wide array of shots in pressure moments. The Spanish superstar has made the drop shot his own and uses it to great effect during his matches.

Alcaraz showed glimpses of this confidence during the Wimbledon final last year with his use of the drop shot against Novak Djokovic. The Spaniard failed with the shot while serving for the match but used it again in the next rally to win a huge point in his quest for a maiden title at SW19.

Still only 21, Alcaraz potentially has more than 10 years at the top of men's tennis. He is set to lead the next generation of tennis stars and is on course to match Novak Djokovic's Grand Slam record of 24 titles.

The only thing that could work against Alcaraz is his dynamic style of play. The youngster plays every point as if it's his last, and that could lead to some injuries later on in his career. However, for now, Alcaraz is the name on everyone's lips.

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Novak Djokovic had Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, who does Carlos Alcaraz have?

Novak Djokovic competed with two of the best players of all time in Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. The 'Big Three' were involved in numerous battles and dominated the sport for more than two decades.

Novak Djokovic has said in the past that the competition from Nadal and Federer pushed him to his limit and helped him achieve his highest level. Carlos Alcaraz has all the tools to be the next tennis superstar, but a competitive rival will help him reach the next level.

The three greatest players in history competing at the same time was a sight to behold for tennis fans, but as the curtain closes on their careers, who could lead the next generation with Carlos Alcaraz?

Jannik Sinner is the obvious answer to that question. The Italian had a rapid rise towards the end of 2023, which culminated with his maiden Australian Open title at the start of this year. The 22-year-old looks like the closest competitor to Alcaraz, and the duo has already engaged in some thrilling battles so far. Their head-to-head in the Grand Slam finals will be a big factor in deciding who ends up with more Majors.

Barring injuries, the young Spaniard has all the tools in his arsenal to create history in what promises to be a highly successful career. But despite his brilliance, the talk about Alcaraz winning more than 20 Grand Slams is a bit premature given how unpredictable a sport tennis is.

German star Boris Becker had won four Grand Slam titles at the age of 21 too but ended up with only six at the end of his career. Alcaraz will look to avoid such a fate after the bright start to his career.