Carlos Alcaraz Draws Comparisons of his Style of Play With the ‘Big 3’ After Reaching Doha Open Final: “I Haven’t Imitated Anyone”

Carlos Alcaraz is in his second final of the season at the Qatar Open.

Carlos Alcaraz Draws Comparisons of his Style of Play With the ‘Big 3’ After Reaching Doha Open Final: “I Haven’t Imitated Anyone”

L-R: Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz (Image via ATP Tour, X/Carlos Alcaraz 4K)

In Short
  • Carlos Alcaraz denies imitating the playing styles of the Big 3, emphasizing his unique approach to tennis.
  • He reached the final of the Qatar Open after defeating Andrey Rublev, solidifying his position as World No.1.
  • Alcaraz expressed surprise at Jannik Sinner's quarter-final exit, acknowledging the unpredictability of emerging players like Jakub Mensik.

Carlos Alcaraz has admitted that he’s not imitating any of the Big 3 style of play after reaching the final of the Qatar Open in Doha. The 22-year-old is into his second consecutive final on tour this season and remains the standout player since April last year, with his arch-rival Jannik Sinner struggling to reach a tour-level final in 2026.

Alcaraz has taken over the Big 3 dominance in the men’s circuit since Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer retired. Novak Djokovic, who remains the only player among the group yet to retire, has not been able to compete on the same level as the Spaniard. Djokovic is currently 38 and doesn’t have the same physical strength he had in his early years on tour.

A video circulated of Alcaraz trying to imitate Djokovic’s serve on the court. The World No.1 was trying out the serve during a practice session in Melbourne.

When asked about it at the event, he insisted he was simply trying to improve his serve rather than focusing on the imitation. Djokovic then suggested that Alcaraz owed him sometimes for every point he wins with the serve. Djokovic is not the only player Alcaraz has been suspected of imitating on tour.

Several pundits have analyzed that he plays with the same level of energy and athleticism as Nadal. Nadal was known to fight for every point and run down his baseline to win games. During his post-match press conference at the Qatar Open, the 22-year-old revealed that he’s not imitating any of the Big 3’s style of play:

Obviously, I admired Roger and Rafa when I was younger, I tried to imitate their things. But as you get older, you just try to define yourself, define your type of tennis. I think that’s what I did. At a certain point, I knew what my style was and I started practicing it. Now it’s something natural, it comes naturally to me. I haven’t imitated anyone in this sport, but, you know, people have talked about it because, with the ‘Big Three,’ there are probably a lot of players, or right now you can look at all the players and think, ‘Okay, this serve is his, this serve is that one’s.

Alcaraz progressed to the final of the Qatar Open after beating Andrey Rublev 7-6(3), 6-4 to reach the last four on Friday (February 20). The Spaniard is set to consolidate his position as World No.1, as he will earn more ranking points following a better performance than his quarter-final exit last year.

Carlos Alcaraz admits he was surprised Jannik Sinner crashed out in the quarter-finals of the Qatar Open

Jannik Sinner shockingly fell to Jakub Mensik in the quarter-finals of the Qatar Open on Thursday (February 19). The Italian star was among the favorites to win the tournament, but he has yet to reach a tour-level final this season. He fell to Mensik in three sets, making it his second loss on tour in less than a month.

Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz (2)
Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz (Image via X/Jannik Sinner HQ)

Sinner fell to Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals of the Australian Open in January in five sets. During the aforementioned press conference, Carlos Alcaraz revealed that he was stunned when Mensik defeated Sinner in the last eight. The seven-time Grand Slam champion added that players like Mensik, on some occasions, play remarkably well but are not consistent:

I was surprised that Jannik lost, I’m not going to lie. But, at the same time, I know what other players are capable of. They are really dangerous when they are having their day, Jakub, for example. The problem with them is consistency, playing at that level in every match. But when they are inspired, they are really dangerous. They can beat anyone, including me. I was surprised in a way, but at the same time, not that much.

However, Mensik exited in the semi-finals of the Qatar Open after losing to Arthur Fils, who just returned from injury. The Czech Republic star was deemed the favorite before the match, but Fils breezed past him 6-4, 7-6(4) to reach his first final of the 2026 season and will face Alcaraz in Doha.

Also Read: Andrea Petkovic Warns Carlos Alcaraz to Be Wary of Umpire Marija Cicak After Argument in Doha: “She’ll Destroy You Mentally and Emotionally”