Copycat Carlos? Why Carlos Alcaraz even Novak Djokovic sees similarities in his new service | ATP tour | Tennis

Carlos Alcaraz

Copycat Carlos? Why Alcaraz even sees Djokovic similarities in his new service

The Spaniard, 22, wants to become the youngest player to complete a Grand Slam career
January 16, 2026

Many tennis fans have been doing a double-take at snippets of Carlos Alcaraz’s new service move on social media in recent days. “Where have I seen that service before?” they asked.

Could the Spaniard channel the technique of someone with even more Grand Slam titles than himself?

When a reporter asked about the new motion during his pre-tournament press conference at the Australian Open on Friday, Alcaraz was ready for a bit of fun.

“You wanted to say it’s really like Djokovic’s serve (smiling). I know you want that,” Alcaraz joked. “I hadn’t thought about making the same serve as Djokovic, but in the end I even see the similarities.

“I think everyone has to make changes, small details. For me, the serve is something that I really want to make better every year, in every tournament. I just constantly work on the serve.”

Alcaraz is in no danger of losing his grip on the No. 1 PIF ATP rankings this fortnight, even if rival Jannik Sinner completes an Australian Open three-peat. But that doesn’t mean the 22-year-old will be lacking in target at Melbourne Park as he will look to become the youngest player in history to complete a Grand Slam career.

“As I said before, this is my main goal for this year,” said Alcaraz, who has already won $60 million in his young career. “The first tournament is the main goal. I have had a very good preparation, just to be in good shape. I am just hungry for the title, hungry to get a very good result here. I am just preparing as best as I can. I am very excited about the start of the tournament.”

Reflecting on Juan Carlos Ferrero’s departure from his team, Alcaraz does not believe the change will affect his chances at the Open.

“I have a lot of confidence in the team I have now… I am very grateful for the seven years I worked with Juan Carlos. I learned a lot. Probably thanks to him I am the player I am today.”

“We closed this chapter together. We are still friends, good relationship. But we just decided that way.”

Alcaraz, who fell to Novak Djokovic in the quarter-finals last year, will play his first match against Australian Adam Walton on Day 1 on Sunday. He is seeded to meet another Australian, Alex de Minaur, in the quarter-finals. With Sinner and Djokovic in the bottom half of the draw, potential semifinal opponents for Alcaraz include No. 3 Alexander Zverev, No. 7 Felix Auger-Aliassime and No. 11 Daniil Medvedev.

Alcaraz and Sinner have shared the past eight Grand Slam titles over the past two seasons and have faced each other in the past three major finals, with the Spaniard winning Roland Garros and the US Open and Sinner triumphing at Wimbledon.