Roger Federer’s Ex-Coach Claims Winning 7 Majors is’ Easier’ Compared to Big 3 Era After Carlos Alcaraz’s Australian Open Triumph
Carlos Alcaraz surpassed Bjorn Borg by becoming the youngest man in the Open Era to reach the seven Grand Slam singles tally.
Follow Us
L-R: Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz (Image via ATP Tour, X/Carlos Alcaraz 4K)
🔍 Explore this post with:
Carlos Alcaraz lifted his career’s seventh Grand Slam title with a four-set win over Novak Djokovic in the 2026 Australian Open final. This made the 22-year-old youngest man in the Open Era to complete the Career Grand Slam as well as win seven Majors, surpassing Bjorn Borg, who won his seventh at the age of 23.
Roger Federer‘s former coach, Ivan Ljubicic, has now said something that for sure wouldn’t go well with the fans of Alcaraz. During his interview with Sky Italia, Ljubicic said winning seven Majors in this time is easier than the Big 3 era because at that time, they wanted to surpass the record of Pete Sampras‘ 14 Grand Slam titles. But now, the benchmark is Djokovic’s 24th title.
What Federer, Djokovic, and Nadal have achieved, winning 20 or more Grand Slams, might make it easier today to win seven at 22. Back then, Pete Sampras was the reference point, so when he reached 14, we said to ourselves, ‘I have to do it.’ Now the goal is different; the target is 25, so it’s still far off. From a mental point of view, you tell yourself, ‘Okay, 7 is not an incredible number because I have to reach 25.’
By completing the Career Grand Slam at 22, Alcaraz surpassed Nadal’s record, as the latter achieved this at the age of 24. Nadal also reached the milestone after defeating Djokovic in the 2010 US Open final.
It would be very different to win 7 with the goal of reaching 10. In my opinion, mentally it’s easier to win seven Grand Slams now, compared to Borg, who won seven when he was very young.
Ivan Ljubicic added
Alcaraz is just the sixth man to win all Major titles, joining Rod Laver, Andre Agassi, Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic. Before this season, he had never made the semifinals of the Melbourne Slam.
Richard Krajicek on Carlos Alcaraz’s withdrawal from the Rotterdam Open
Before defeating Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open final, Carlos Alcaraz featured in the longest semifinal in the history of the tournament. After failing to capitalize on a two-set lead, as well as suffering from illness and cramps, the Murcia native knocked out last year’s runner-up, Alexander Zverev, in five hours and 27 minutes.
Rotterdam Open tournament director Richard Krajicek also watched the match, but when Alcaraz was hit by cramps, Krajicek stopped watching and only found out later what happened. He thought that if Alcaraz lost in the semifinals, he would have played the Rotterdam Open, but as the World No.1 reached the final and won the title, Krajicek had already guessed that Alcaraz would eventually pull out of the ATP 500 indoor hard-court event.
So Monday morning, I got the message from his agent, and yeah. I was a little bit expecting it, but I wish I was sleeping for one more hour because I didn’t want to see that message! But it was not a big surprise. It is unbelievably draining, and having the cramps and then still coming back two days later, even though it was a relatively easy final physically compared to the semis, and it was only 15 degrees.
Richard Krajicek said on the Of Court with Greg podcast
Alcaraz lifted his career’s first indoor hardcourt title in Rotterdam last year by defeating Alex de Minaur. Zverev was also scheduled to play the tournament, and he, too, has decided to pull out.
Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard has replaced Alcaraz, while Jesper de Jong has replaced the German. The main draw of the Rotterdam Open starts on February 9, and the final will be held on February 15.
Also read: Novak Djokovic’s Ex-Coach Sends Warning to Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner After Australian Open
/techfirstnow/media/agency_attachments/kATjCXskQdJKkXN0OuqW.png)