French Open 2024: Carlos Alcaraz wants to surpass Novak Djokovic

“What I like most is him thinking big and not just thinking small,” said Alcaraz’s coach Juan Carlos Ferrero.

“To be one of the greatest you have to think big.

“It’s going to be very hard to break records but we’re here to try to do as well as we can.”

Alcaraz had been touted as a future Grand Slam champion from a young age, with his reputation in his hometown of Murcia quickly spreading.

Kiko Navarro, his first coach, realised he had “a very special player” on his hands after seeing Alcaraz play aged five.

Jesus Garcia Pardo, nine years older than the prodigious youngster and an aspiring professional, was “left speechless” by a 10-year-old Alcaraz.

“All his strokes were special,” said Pardo, who became Alcaraz’s hitting partner.

“He played with no fear, no matter who was on the other side of the net. That helped him make it to the top.”

Aged 11, Alcaraz was identified as a potential superstar by agent Albert Molina. Four years later, Molina enlisted the help of former world number one Ferrero.

Ferrero has nurtured Alcaraz ever since, helping his protege fulfil the potential first shown on the clay courts of El Palmar.

Aged 19, Alcaraz claimed his first major at the 2022 US Open, and last year ended Djokovic’s dominance to win Wimbledon – despite having barely played on grass.

Transferring his ability across surfaces has been another sign of Alcaraz’s talent.

“I think his best surface right now is a hard court,” said Ferrero.

“He’s developed on these courts but we cannot avoid [that] the clay court is where he was born.

“I think he will win Roland Garros at least once – he has the game to do it.”