KEY POINTS

  • Alcaraz recently won the US Open 2022
  • He became the youngest Grand Slam winner since Nadal in 2005
  • The teenage star is with Spain's Davis Cup squad in Valencia

World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz has made a special confession regarding his idol Roger Federer.

Alcaraz recently took the tennis fraternity by storm as he became the youngest Grand Slam champion since Rafael Nadal in 2005. Alcaraz achieved the feat by winning the US Open 2022 and the victory also made him the youngest World No. 1 in the history of ATP rankings.

The 19-year-old defeated Norway's Casper Ruud in four sets at Flushing Meadows to claim his maiden Grand Slam trophy.

Following his historic US Open victory, Alcaraz said his dream was to play against Federer, who has not played a professional match since Wimbledon last year. While the Swiss legend has been stuck at 20 Grand Slams, the other two candidates of the 'Big Three' – Nadal and Novak Djokovic – have extended their leads to 22 and 21 major titles respectively.

"I would like to face Federer. And all the Big Three at a grand slam," Alcaraz said after returning to Spain, Yahoo Sports reported.

Final frontier: Carlos Alcaraz
Carlos Alcaraz is the youngest ATP player to become World No. 1

Federer recently hinted that the Basel Open, his home tournament, would mark his return having been off from the ATP tour for more than a year. However, it is still uncertain whether the 41-year-old would play in the Laver Cup or not. He is a part of Team Europe, along with Nadal, Djokovic and Andy Murray.

Alcaraz had admitted in the past that he grew up idolizing Federer and styled his game as per the Swiss master's game.

Soon after Nadal won the Roland Garros in 2005, a video surfaced online in which a 12-year-old Alcaraz can be seen speaking Spanish. When the person behind the camera asked Alcaraz who was his idol, he instantly replied "Roger Federer."

Following a hectic month in New York, Alcaraz reached Valencia on Tuesday. He is already gearing up for his national duties for the Davis Cup.

"I'm very happy and excited to be here. I'm here to contribute even a little grain of sand to the national team," Alcaraz said.

Retired Spanish tennis legend David Ferrer greeted Alcaraz in Valencia. Ferrer also took to social media to praise the teenager.

"The joy is ours to have you here in Davis Cup," Ferrer wrote on his official Twitter account, along with a picture with Alcaraz.

Spain are one of the most successful tennis sides in the world, having won the Davis Cup six times (2000, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2019) and finished as runner-up four times (1965, 1967, 2003, 2012).