{"id":416556,"date":"2026-01-16T09:12:09","date_gmt":"2026-01-16T09:12:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/416556\/"},"modified":"2026-01-16T09:12:09","modified_gmt":"2026-01-16T09:12:09","slug":"copycat-carlos-why-carlos-alcaraz-even-sees-novak-djokovic-similarities-in-his-new-serve-atp-tour","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/416556\/","title":{"rendered":"Copycat Carlos? Why Carlos Alcaraz even sees Novak Djokovic similarities in his new serve | ATP Tour"},"content":{"rendered":"

Carlos Alcaraz
\n Copycat Carlos? Why Alcaraz even sees Djokovic similarities in his new serve<\/p>\n

Spaniard, 22, aims to become youngest player to complete career Grand Slam<\/p>\n

January 16, 2026<\/p>\n

\"Carlos<\/p>\n

Kelly Defina\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

Carlos Alcaraz is chasing his first Australian Open crown.
\n By ATP Staff<\/p>\n

Many tennis fans have done a double take watching clips of Carlos Alcaraz<\/a>\u2019s new service motion on social media in recent days. \u2018Where have I seen that serve before?\u2019, they\u2019ve asked.<\/p>\n

Could the Spaniard be channeling the technique of someone with even more Grand Slam titles than himself? <\/p>\n

When a reporter asked about the new motion in his Australian Open<\/a> pre-tournament press conference Friday, Alcaraz was ready to have a little fun.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou wanted to say it’s really similar to Djokovic serve (smiling). I know you want to,\u201d Alcaraz bantered. \u201cI wasn’t thinking about making the same serve as Djokovic. But at the end, I can even see the similarities.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think everyone has to make changes, small details. For me the serve is something that I really want to be better every year, in every tournament. I’m just putting constant work on the serve.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\u201cATP\"\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Alcaraz is not in danger of losing his grip on the No. 1 PIF ATP Ranking this fortnight, even if rival Jannik Sinner<\/a> completes an Australian Open<\/a> three-peat. But that doesn\u2019t mean the 22-year-old is lacking purpose at Melbourne Park: He will attempt to become the youngest player in history to complete the career Grand Slam.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs I said before, this is my main goal for this year,\u201d said Alcaraz, who already has won $60m in his young career. \u201cThe first tournament is the main goal. I made a really good pre-season, just to be in good shape. I’m just hungry for the title, hungry to do a really good result here. I’m just getting ready as much as I can. I’m really excited about the tournament beginning.\u201d<\/p>\n

Reflecting on the departure of Juan Carlos Ferrero<\/a> from his team, Alcaraz does not believe the change will impact his chances at the Open.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have plenty of confidence with the team that I have right now\u2026 I’m really grateful for the seven years I’ve been with Juan Carlos. I learned a lot. Probably thanks to him I’m the player that I am right now. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe closed this chapter in mutual. We are still friends, good relationship. But we just decided like this.\u201d<\/p>\n

Alcaraz, who last year fell in the quarter-finals to Novak Djokovic<\/a>, plays his first match against Australian Adam Walton<\/a> on Day 1, Sunday. He is seeded to meet another Aussie, Alex de Minaur<\/a>, in the quarter-finals. With Sinner and Djokovic in the bottom half of the draw, potential semi-final opponents for Alcaraz include No. 3 Alexander Zverev<\/a>, No. 7 Felix Auger-Aliassime<\/a> and No. 11 Daniil Medvedev<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Alcaraz and Sinner have shared the past eight Grand Slam titles in the past two seasons and have gone head-to-head in the past three major finals, with the Spaniard winning Roland Garros<\/a> and the US Open<\/a> and Sinner triumphing at Wimbledon<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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