Carlos Alcaraz says he was 'enchanted' by 'magnificent' Roger Federer and 'admires' Rafael Nadal

Carlos Alcaraz says watching Roger Federer play was like “looking at a work of art” and that he became “enchanted by him”. Alcaraz, 19, made his big breakthrough last summer when he won the US Open and became the youngest No. 1 in ATP history.

Ad Just a month later, Federer retired from tennis at the Laver Cup. ATP Rio de JaneiroAlcaraz spares ball kid from heavy rain in classy gesture as match suspended in Rio9 HOURS AGO Alcaraz and Federer never faced each other on tour, but Alcaraz clearly has deep admiration for the 20-time Grand Slam champion, as well as his fellow Spaniard Rafael Nadal. “Rafa is someone I’ve always watched,” he told Vogue.

“I admire him a lot. But Federer, the class he had, the way he got people to see tennis: That was beautiful. “Watching Federer is like looking at a work of art.

It’s elegance, he did everything magnificently. I became enchanted by him.” Nadal and Federer have, along with Novak Djokovic, been the dominant force of men’s tennis over the last 20 years. They have won 64 Grand Slam titles combined and have broken numerous records in the sport.

Djokovic hopeful of playing Indian Wells and Miami Swiatek's winning streak a year on: Can she go again? “What Rafa, Roger, and Djokovic have done is almost impossible,” added Alcaraz. “I think when you’ve won your first Grand Slam you realise how complicated that is.” Alcaraz clinched his maiden major in memorable style, winning three successive five-set matches before beating Casper Ruud in the final with the world No. 1 ranking on the line.

But his form for the rest of the season was patchy and he missed the Nitto ATP Finals due to injury. He admits it was tough to return to his top level after experiencing such a high at the US Open. “I had