Carlos Alcaraz gunning for Novak Djokovic as Spaniard talks up potential Monte Carlo clash

Carlos Alcaraz is ready to build on his Miami Open triumph and prove himself against the best in the world at the Monte Carlo Masters. The 18-year-old could face Novak Djokovic for the first time in his career if both players make it to the quarter-final stage this week, and the tour's most recent Masters 1000 champion says he's up for the "challenge" of taking on the world No 1.

Djokovic is playing just his second tournament of the year in Monte Carlo after his unvaccinated status kept him out of the Australian Open, Indian Wells and Miami. His only showing this season has been a quarter-final loss to qualifier Jiri Vesely at the Dubai Championships and he now faces Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in his first match at the Monte Carlo Masters, having been given a bye to the second round.

Win his opening two matches and the two-time former champion could face the most recent Masters 1000 champion in the quarter-final stage, Alcaraz. The world No 11 has been the talk of the tennis world since becoming the youngest man ever to lift the Miami Open champion two weeks ago and has already been tipped to surpass Djokovic and his fellow Big Three members to become the "best ever".

The 18-year-old must also make it past his first two matches, opening with a clash against dangerous American Sebastian Korda, to set up a quarter-final showdown against the top seed, and has been talking up the potential clash after seeing the draw. "I hope to face Djokovic in the quarter-finals," the young Spaniard said ahead of the tournament.

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Alcaraz, who has faced Djokovic's rival Nadal previously and lost both encounters including the recent Indian Wells semi-final, spoke