ATP Tour
Why Federer’s recommendation is shaping Alcaraz’s five-year plan
Spaniard displays on US Open semi-final win towards Djokovic
September 06, 2025
Maddie Meyer and Julian Finney/Getty Pictures
Carlos Alcaraz is pursuing his second title on the US Open, the place Roger Federer triumphed in 5 straight years from 2004-08.
By ATP Workers
Twenty-two-year-old Carlos Alcaraz revealed after his victory towards 38-year-old Novak Djokovic within the US Open semi-finals Friday that recommendation he obtained from one other participant has helped him keep away from trying too far forward.
“Thank God that is too far for me proper now,” Alcaraz mentioned when requested if he wish to play at 38. “One individual as soon as informed me that you do not have to consider 35, 38 years previous, nonetheless enjoying at that age. He informed me, ‘You must be targeted on the subsequent 5 years’, from right here to when I’m 27. After which, after I get 27, then take into consideration 5 years extra.
“It’s not about considering in 15 or 20 years. It is nearly going 12 months by 12 months or simply interested by simply 5 years most.
We’ll see. We’ll see till what age I’ll attempt to take care about my physique nearly as good as I can.”
The pure query was to ask which participant gave Alcaraz the recommendation. Given his 2024 Dartmouth graduation speech stuffed with pearls of knowledge, the reply is not going to stunned followers.
“Who informed me was Roger,” Alcaraz mentioned of Roger Federer. “So I believe that is the perfect individual [who] might inform me that, and I’ll attempt to comply with his phrases.”
Federer succeeded late into his profession like Djokovic, making the Wimbledon quarter-finals aged 39. However the Serbian has proven even larger consistency this season, making the semi-finals in any respect 4 majors.
“I’m enjoying towards Novak. It isn’t simple enjoying towards him, to be sincere,” Alcaraz mentioned. “I’m interested by the legend, what he has achieved in his profession. It is tough not to consider it. In order that makes going through him even more durable.
“However I am simply actually comfortable to get my first win towards him on the laborious court docket and making one other closing right here. As we speak I did not really feel actually nervous, however just a bit bit due to that.”
Djokovic was unable to place Alcaraz into issue Friday, however the Serbian defeated the Spaniard at this 12 months’s Australian Open and in final 12 months’s Paris Olympics gold medal match.
“It is spectacular. It is spectacular what he has accomplished this 12 months within the Slams, reaching the semi-final in each Slam, difficult the Subsequent Gen,” Alcaraz mentioned. “Difficult us the way in which he is doing, it is spectacular. I informed him all the time he seems 25 years previous bodily, so to keep up that stage at 38, it is spectacular.”
Three years on from profitable the US Open as a 19-year-old and by doing so changing into the youthful No. 1 in PIF ATP Rankings historical past, Alcaraz is one win from claiming glory in New York once more. The second seed will tackle rival Jannik Sinner or Felix Auger-Aliassime for the trophy.
“If I am enjoying towards Jannik, clearly I will take issues [from] the previous matches that I’ve performed towards him. The previous one or the previous three matches, I will take word, and I’ll see what I did incorrect, what I did nice within the matches, simply to strategy the ultimate in a great way,” Alcaraz mentioned.
“But when I am enjoying towards Felix, it will be the identical. I will watch the earlier matches towards him, and I’ll take word in regards to the good issues and the dangerous issues that I did.”
