Novak Djokovic sends warning to Carlos Alcaraz, the ‘challenging’ years are still to come

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Carlos Alcaraz is a four-time Grand Slam champion and has previously held the number one ranking.

Spanish star Alcaraz enjoyed a strong start to his clay-court season, winning the Monte-Carlo Masters before finishing as runner-up in Barcelona.

An injury sustained in the Barcelona Open final caused Alcaraz to withdraw from the Madrid Open, an event he’s won twice before.

Away from the court, Alcaraz made headlines this week thanks to comments he made in his new Netflix documentary.

The ATP Tour’s number three-ranked player said ‘I would prefer to put happiness before any kind of accomplishment, because happiness is an accomplishment.’

Speaking ahead of his opening match at the Madrid Open, one of Alcaraz’s biggest rivals reacted to those comments and warned the 21-year-old of the challenges that await him.

Novak Djokovic says Carlos Alcaraz has ‘challenging’ times ahead of him

Appearing on the Iguales podcast, 24-time Major champion Novak Djokovic shared his thoughts on Alcaraz’s ‘happiness’ comment.

“I think it’s a great quote and it’s a great philosophy if he’s able to sustain that,” he said.

“He’s very young, but he has a very good base, meaning he’s got a good foundation, good roots, good surrounding, family, values, good character, says hello, very nice, kind, respectful, and of course [an] incredible athlete, so he’s got the full package.

“It feels like he’s been there for 10 years on the tour but he’s only [been on the tour for] two, three years, so there is still a lot of time ahead of him.”

Djokovic warned Alcaraz that things could get tough for him over the coming years.

“This time that will come for him will be challenging a lot, not only on the court but off the court,” he said.

“Managing the same things, seeing the same people, doing the same thing, [playing the] same tournaments over and over again, year after year.

“But that’s okay, that’s part of his journey, and all of us, we go through this journey.”

The Serb explained how he found it ‘challenging’ to maintain the mindset Alcaraz is speaking of.

“I found it challenging for me, I was also kind of like that, I always had that oriented goal, oriented mentality, but I always, of course, wanted to win,” said Djokovic.

“At the same time, I was enjoying everything around me more than I have in the last few years on the tour, which became a bit more challenging for me, so it just really depends on the person, it’s quite relative.”

Djokovic went on to say that he thinks it would be ‘amazing’ to see Alcaraz keep up the same philosophy that has led him to four Major titles.

“It seems like he’s got the awareness of what the right attitude towards life is, so I think that’s already a good preparation for what’s coming in front of him,” he said.

“If he’s able to sustain that kind of philosophy, it’s amazing.”

Could Novak Djokovic take advantage of Carlos Alcaraz’s absence and win the Madrid Open?

When Rafael Nadal retired from tennis in 2024, Djokovic assumed the role of the most successful ‘active’ player at the Madrid Open, having won the tournament three times previously.

Djokovic has only returned to the Madrid Open once since he last lifted the title, however, falling to defeat against Alcaraz in the semi-finals three years ago.

He’ll be hoping to go all the way in the Spanish capital this time around, and may be in with a good chance of doing so, thanks to his draw.

Novak Djokovic’s potential route to the Madrid Open title (By ranking)

• 2R – Matteo Arnaldi
• 3R – Sebastian Baez
• 4R – Frances Tiafoe
• QF – Jack Draper
• SF – Alex de Minaur
• F – Alexander Zverev

Only Matteo Arnaldi (3-2, 60%) had a winning record at the Madrid Open before 2025, of Djokovic’s most likely opponents on his way to the final.

There, Djokovic could come up against Germany’s Alexander Zverev, who took home the title in 2018 and 2021.

The world number two had struggled for form recently, but bounced back with a title in Munich, before Zverev beat Roberto Bautista Agut in his Madrid opener.

It would certainly be interesting to see the pair battle it out for the trophy next weekend, but neither player will want to get ahead of themselves.

Djokovic will begin his campaign against Arnaldi on Saturday, April 26, with Zverev returning to take on either Nuno Borges or Alejandro Davidovich Fokina on Sunday, April 27.