Roger Federer: Teen ATP Tour starlet compares his game to Swiss after winning debut match

Carlos Alcaraz says he feels his game closely resembles Roger Federer after winning his maiden ATP Tour-level match at the first attempt. Before the start of the Rio Open, Alcaraz had only played matches on the ITF and Challenger Tour.

But the 16-year-old sensationally announced himself to the tennis world on Monday when he beat fellow Spaniard Albert Ramos-Vinolas in the first round.

Alcaraz is ranked 406 in the world rankings and had never played a top-100 player before.

Yet on several occasions, the teenager played points with the composure of a 10-year veteran and showed impressive game management against his experienced opponent.

And in the deciding set tiebreak, he was the better player as he completed the win at 3:00am after three hours and 36 minutes.

“I will remember Rio forever,” Alcaraz said told the ATP.

“I am very happy to win my first ATP Tour match. This has been the longest and most intense match I’ve played so far.

“There were quite difficult conditions, but if you have the right attitude, the conditions don’t matter. You can achieve anything.”

After the match, the newcomer, who is understood to idolise Rafael Nadal, compared his style to the 20-time Grand Slam champion instead.

”I like to play very aggressively, with a lot of winners,” Alcaraz said.

“My style is more or less like Roger Federer’s, aggressively coming to the net and playing a lot of drop shots.

“I always have positive thoughts. I always think I can win, no matter who the opponent is.

“If you don’t think you can win, you shouldn’t go on the court.”

Alcaraz is coached by former World No 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero and the 2003 French Open champion feels the teen is on the way to the top.

“He’s only 16 and he’s just starting to travel the world,” Ferrero said.

“He has the level, the speed, he’s getting better physically every day, so I think he can be one of the best.

“I don’t know how high, but I think he can be up there in two or three years. I have a lot of experience with what he is going to deal with, [so] I’m giving him the best advice that I can.”

source: express.co.uk