Carlos Alcaraz compares member of the ‘big three’ to Lionel Messi
Carlos Alcaraz has revealed which member of the ‘big three’ he believes is most comparable to football legend Lionel Messi, as he prepares to make his comeback to the ATP tour.
Alcaraz, who has been out for the start of the season with a leg injury, compared the now retired Roger Federer to the Argentine footballer.
The US Open champion is in the Argentinian capital, Buenos Aires, for his first ATP tournament since getting injured at the Paris Masters back in November, and was asked who he thinks is most like the World Cup winner.
“Roger, because of the talent he has and the ease with which he plays,” the Spaniard told Argentinean outlet Ole.
@carlosalcaraz returns 😎
Hands up if you're happy to see him back in action 🙌@ArgentinaOpen | #ArgOpen2023 pic.twitter.com/tH5EFBdnfj
— ATP Tour (@atptour) February 15, 2023
Despite singling out the Swiss, Alcaraz was full of praise for Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal as well.
“I want to continue winning many Grand Slams and for that I have to pay attention to Djokovic and Rafa, because the years go by and they continue to win those tournaments and continue to give their best level,” said Alcaraz.
He added, “And that is what I would like to me: keep myself at the best level as the years go by.”
Messi was not the only Argentinian sporting star that the 19-year-old paid homage to, as he also spoke highly of Juan Martin Del Potro, who won the US Open back in 2009 and retired at the Buenos Aires Open last year.
“Juan MartÃn is one of the great tennis players that tennis has had and I would have liked very much to play against him.”
Alcaraz lost his spot at the top of the rankings when Djokovic won a record 10th Australian Open title, and will begin his campaign to claw that gap back against Laslo Djere on the Argentinian clay.
 Join >> Receive $700/£600 of tennis gear from the Tennishead CLUB
 Social >> Facebook, Twitter & YouTube
 Read >> World’s best tennis magazine
 Shop >> Lowest price tennis gear from our trusted partnerÂ