Tennis fans were never gifted the dream match between Roger Federer and Carlos Alcaraz, despite their careers briefly overlapping.
The Spaniard had the chance to play Rafael Nadal at tour-level three times and has clashed with Novak Djokovic on nine separate occasions, including two Wimbledon finals.
Alcaraz never encountered the third member of the ‘big three’, however, who retired during the 2022 season, when the now-world number one was enjoying his breakthrough year.
Recently, Federer discussed what his game plan would be were he to ever face the six-time major champion.
Roger Federer explains how he would face Carlos Alcaraz
In an interview with ‘Cracked Racquets’, the Swiss legend said: “I mean, obviously, it’s court-surface based, let’s start with that, because not every surface allows you just to power through Alcaraz.
“You have to outmanoeuvre him, which is obviously super difficult. You know, what I did see yesterday [Against Fritz at the Laver Cup] is that he is able to cover, you know, with the speed that he has.”
Taylor Fritz defeated Alcaraz on day two of the Laver Cup in straight sets to claim two points for Team World.
“So clearly you have to go in with a mindset that you have to win the point twice, so that’s already in the back of your head, and that can really throw some question marks.
“Even if you’re hitting an easy forehand where normally that’s a winner, well, now you don’t know if that’s going to be a winner and an overhead smash, you know? So you always have an extra chance to miss a ball, and that’s kind of a tricky one against him.
“But I would obviously play very aggressively against him on an indoor court like this, like Taylor did yesterday. Keep coming at him, making him feel uncomfortable, mix it up, come in some.
“I thought that Taylor did an amazing job, serving clutch when he had to, and then just being really solid when he did, you know.
“Also in defence, you have to show the whole arsenal against because he will stretch that out and find it and figure it out normally. Yesterday was a big surprise that he kind of ran out of time.”
Carlos Alcaraz’s record against each of the ‘big three’ on tour
In his three matchups with his compatriot, Alcaraz managed to beat Nadal just once, winning in their last meeting at the Madrid Open in 2022.
The 22-time Grand Slam champion had emerged victorious in their previous showdowns at the Indian Wells Open earlier that year, and in Madrid in 2021.
Against Djokovic, Alcaraz trails in the head-to-head by 5-4, but won their most recent battle in the US Open semifinals.
At Grand Slams, the 22-year-old leads the Serb 3-2, having triumphed in both of their Wimbledon finals.
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