Carlos Alcaraz Reveals Who He Thinks Is ‘the GOAT’ Between Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic

Carlos Alcaraz and everyone on Team Europe and Team World are gearing up for the Laver Cup, which will run from September 25 to September 27. Last year, Andre Agassi‘s team defeated Yannick Noah‘s team 15–9, and this made Team World a three-time champion.

Alcaraz played four matches, two doubles and two singles matches. He and Jakub Mensik beat the pair of Taylor Fritz and Alex Michelsen. But Fritz beat Alcaraz in singles in what was also his career’s first win over the Spaniard. Later, the seven-time Grand Slam champion paired up with Casper Ruud and defeated Michelsen and Reilly Opelka, before he breezed past Francisco Cerundolo in the penultimate match of the tournament.

Since 2022, no member of the Big 3 has competed in the tournament. That year, Roger Federer played his career’s final match after teaming up with Rafael Nadal. Djokovic played one doubles and two singles matches. Federer hung up his racket after his doubles defeat. Two years later at the Davis Cup, 22-time Grand Slam champion Nadal joined him on the retirement list. Djokovic, 39, will continue his hunt for his 25th Grand Slam title next year.

Alcaraz and everyone in the Laver Cup have already arrived in London, where the matches will be played at The O2 Arena. There, during his interview with Beanyman News, he was asked who he thinks is the greatest of all time (GOAT) in tennis.

For me, Nadal is someone that I look up to when I was a little kid growing up, but the GOAT in terms of numbers, everything he has in tennis- he won everything, not only once, [but] twice, is Djokovic.

carlos:” for me Nadal is something that I look up to when I was a little kid growing up but the goat in terms of numbers everything he has in tennis he won everything not only one twice is Djokovic.” pic.twitter.com/dXKjFbg0CY

— f #7inMelbourne (@fvaeey) September 24, 2026

Djokovic and Alcaraz met just once this season, in the final of the Australian Open, where the Serb registered a four-set defeat. It was the second time since Djokovic’s 24th Major win at the 2023 US Open that Alcaraz defeated him in a Grand Slam final, following the 2024 Wimbledon final.

Djokovic was last seen in action in the first round of the US Open, where Mariano Navone clinched a five-set win. He will next be participating in the China Open, which he has won six times, and holds a 29–0 win-loss record. The China Open starts on September 30. Jannik Sinner will be bidding to defend his title.

But Alcaraz won’t be in Beijing after the Laver Cup. He will be in Tokyo to defend his title. The 23-year-old has already played three finals this season, winning two titles in Melbourne and Doha. He lost the Monte-Carlo Masters final to Sinner.

Carlos Costa says Novak Djokovic loves helping youngsters

Novak Djokovic‘s new physio, Carlos Costa, recently appeared on Diario de um Treinador, and there, among other things, he talked about what he has observed while being around Nole. Costa understood that for Djokovic, not making a deep run or losing in the early rounds of a Grand Slam tournament is a major disappointment.

He said Djokovic demands a lot from his team and also keeps a close eye on his rivals’ training methods in the locker room. Costa also revealed one thing about Djokovic that not many know.

He loves helping younger players. He often stops training to give advice to other players, even those he is competing against on the tour. Not long ago, [Felix] Auger-Aliassime asked him for some advice, and Novak immediately helped him. The same thing happened with [Joao] Fonseca. People have no idea how much he helps other players.

Djokovic last won a title at the 2025 Hellenic Championship. Apart from the four Majors, he has so far played three Masters 1000s, losing in the first rounds of the Italian Open and the Cincinnati Masters.

Also read: Andre Agassi Sends Advice To Emma Raducanu After She Revealed His Autobiography ‘Open’ Inspired Her