Why Roger Federer’s suggestion is shaping Carlos Alcaraz’s five-year plan | ATP Journey

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Why Federer’s suggestion shapes Alcalaz’s five-year plan

Espanyol reflects on US Open semifinals against Djokovic

September 6, 2025

Carlos Alcaraz, 22, revealed after winning Friday with Novak Djokovic, 38, in the U.S. Open semifinals, that advice he received from another player helped him avoid the distance he was moving forward.

When asked if he wanted to attend the 38-year-old, Alkaraz said, “Thank God, this is too far for me.” One person once told me that you don’t have to think about 35, 38-year-old 35, still in that age group. He told me, ‘You have to focus on the next five years.

“It’s not about thinking in 15 or 20 years. It’s only annual, or only for up to five years. We’ll see. We’ll see until I’m going to take care of my body as much as I can until I’m a few years old.”

The natural question is to ask which player gave Alcalazz advice. Given that his 2024 Dartmouth opening speech was filled with pearls of wisdom, the answers wouldn’t surprise fans.

“Who told me it was Roger,” Alkaraz said of Roger Federer. “So I think that’s the best person [who] Can tell me I will try to follow his words. ”

Federer has succeeded in his career like Djokovic, bringing Wimbledon quarterfinals to 39 years old.

“I’m playing against Novak. Honestly, it’s not easy to fight him,” Alkaraz said. “I’m thinking about legend, what he’s accomplished in his career. It’s hard not to think about it. So it makes him face it even harder.

“But I’m really happy to have a first win against him on a tough court and have another final here. Today, I’m not nervous, but that’s all.”

Djokovic was unable to put Alcaraz in Friday’s difficulties, but the Serbs beat the Spaniard in this year’s Australian Open and last year’s Paris Olympic gold medal match.

“It made a big impression. The impressive things he did in the Grand Slam this year, reaching the semi-finals in every Grand Slam, challenging the next generation,” Alkaraz said. “It made a big impression on challenging the way we were. I told him that his body looked 25 years old, so it was very impressive to stay in the 38th level.”

Three years from winning the 19-year-old U.S. Open and becoming the youngest No. 1 in PIF ATP rankings history, Alcaraz once again won the glory in New York. The second seed will be trophy with champion rivals Jannik Sinner or Felix Ouger-Aliassime.

“If I were to fight Jannik, obviously I was going [from] I’ve played past games with him. In the last three games, I’m going to be aware that I’m going to see what I’ve done wrong, doing well in the game, just to get to the finals in a good way. ” Alkaraz said.

“But if I’m against Felix, it’s going to be the same. I’m going to watch previous games against him and I’ll notice the good and bad things I’ve done.”