US Open winner Novak Djokovic has replaced Carlos Alcaraz as the world No.1 (Picture: Getty)
British tennis hero Andy Murray has fired a warning to Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz after Novak Djokovic’s triumph at the 2023 US Open.
Djokovic beat Daniil Medvedev in the Flushing Meadows final on Sunday to secure a historic 24th Grand Slam title and he has now replaced Alcaraz as the world No.1 – who was the top seed in New York but lost in the last four.
It has been a remarkable year for 36-year-old Djokovic, who lifted three major trophies in 2023 following success at the Australian Open and the French Open, despite losing to 20-year-old Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final in July.
Many saw Alcaraz’s Wimbledon win as a changing of the guard but Murray, who had his own rivalry with Djokovic, has issued a warning to the Spaniard that the Serbian will continue to dominate at the top of the sport for years to come.
‘It’s up to the young guys to be pushing Novak and looking to overtake him. It doesn’t look like that’s close to happening,’ Murray told the BBC.
‘Novak’s been an incredible player for a very long time, like Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, it’s the longevity and how long they’ve all been able to do that for.
‘Novak’s longevity has been the greatest. He’s played at this level for such a long time now. I said that after Wimbledon, everyone was saying it was a changing of the guard, but it wasn’t for me.
‘It was quite clear Novak had won two of the first three slams and was very, very close in the final of Wimbledon. He proved that he’s the best player in the world again yesterday and like I said it’s up to the youngsters to improve enough to overtake him.
‘I don’t think he’s going to stop at 24 titles, but you never know how long it will last.
‘Physically, motivation, whether someone like Alcaraz improves – he’s an amazing player Alcaraz, he’s brilliant, but to do what Novak is doing on a consistent basis is different.
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‘It’s not the same as doing it for 15-20 weeks a year like Novak is doing, every time he steps on the court.
‘I do think that Alcaraz will soon get to that level but I don’t think this is going to be the last time that Novak wins a Grand Slam.’
Djokovic’s coach Goran Ivanisevic revealed after the US Open final that Djokovic is planning to play at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, the year in which he turns 41-years-old.
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‘I don’t think he’s going to stop at 24 titles.’
