"I'm not considering myself a champion" - Carlos Alcaraz dismisses putting himself on same level as Djokovic, Nadal, Federer, Borg after Channel Slam
Carlos Alcaraz’s Wimbledon win made him only the fourth man this century after Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic to complete a Channel Slam — the rare feat of winning the French Open and Wimbledon in the same year. The youngster beat Djokovic in the final 6-2, 6-2, 7-6(4).
Addressing the difficulties in winning the two closely scheduled Slams on different surfaces during the trophy presentation ceremony, Alcaraz said he kept fighting and believing in himself.
He went on to describe it as a huge honor, being a part of the same club as his opponent, Novak Djokovic, but he was quick to add that he did not consider himself a champion just yet.
"Well, I've been just fighting, believing, I don't know... it's a huge honour for me to be a part of the of those players who have achieved Roland Garros and Wimbledon in the same year.
"Really glad to to be, you know, in the same table as [Novak Djokovic], to do it, huge champions," he continued. "I'm not considering myself a champion yet, but you know, I'm trying to," Alcaraz said.
Alcaraz said he would take time for him to see himself as a champion in the top league. He added that he was still working to build his path and his journey, before reiterating how honored he was to have joined the Channel Slam club.
"Not a champion like them, but I am trying to keep going to keep, you know, building my path, my journey, but yeah, it's a huge honor for me," Carlos Alcaraz said.
Bjorn Borg, Rod Laver completed Channel Slam before Carlos Alcaraz, Djokovic, Nadal & Federer
Besides Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Carlos Alcaraz, Bjorn Borg and Rod Laver have also achieved the Channel Slam.
Borg, in fact, has achieved the feat a record three times — in consecutive years 1978, 1979, and 1980. He beat Guillermo Vilas, Víctor Pecci Sr and Vitas Gerulaitis in the three French Open finals respectively, backing those up with wins over Jimmy Connors, Roscoe Tanner and John McEnroe at Wimbledon.
Nadal is the only other player to have achieved the feat on multiple occasions, having done it twice in 2008 and 2010. He beat Federer and Robin Soderling in the French Open finals while prevailing over Federer and Tomas Berdych for the two Wimbledon titles respectively.
Alcaraz had last month beaten Alexander Zverev to lift his first French Open title, before successfully defending his Wimbledon crown on Sunday.