Although Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have emphasized their wish to play Roger Federer before he retires, the two young stars of tennis never got the chance to fulfill their desire.
Yet, they may still exchange balls with Federer outside the ATP Tour as the Swiss Maestro pointed out that he will keep playing the sport that made him famous.
“Playing against Federer would excite me and beating a ‘Big Three’ player in a Grand Slam. Iāve always said that in order to be the best, you have to beat the best,” Alcaraz told the ATP Tour website.
In the same interview with the ATP, Alcaraz was asked whether there’s something special in his game. “My answer is the same. Nobody gifts you anything, I believe. You donāt just click your fingers and have the world at your feet. You have to work at things. I think what I have achieved, winning a Grand Slam and being No. 1 in the world, is because of the work Iāve been doing with my team for a very long time. It hasnāt been a bed of roses, Iāve had to suffer and go through bad times to get here. Iām not special, and nobody said I was going to be the best, Iāve worked for it,” Alcaraz answered.
Sinnerās missing piece was Federer
Regarding Jannik Sinner, the Italian has had the chance to face Novak Djokovic and Nadal throughout his young career. He has always lost with both, but his biggest dream is to find Federer on the other side of the net. Sinner, during an interview with Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, explained he would like to face Roger soon: “With the talent he has, Roger can always surprise. I would like to face him before he retires, he is the only one of the Big Three that I miss, I played with Nadal and Djokovic.”