CONFESS NEWS: Carlos Alcaraz recently made an honest confession about Roger Federer but did not mention Rafael Nadal.

Carlos Alcaraz recently discussed tennis legends Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. After his victory over Fabian Marozsan at Indian Wells, Alcaraz notably expressed admiration for Federer while not mentioning Nadal. Alcaraz, often compared to his Spanish compatriot Nadal, seems to have different aspirations despite being seen as Nadal’s heir apparent.

World No. 2 Alcaraz secured a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Marozsan in just 75 minutes, setting the stage for a final-eight showdown with Alexander Zverev. When asked about the tennis greats who preceded him, Alcaraz shared his thoughts.

Despite acknowledging his respect for his “idol” Nadal, Alcaraz chose to focus on his desire to emulate Federer during the discussion. While Federer may have fewer Grand Slam titles compared to Nadal and Novak Djokovic, Alcaraz finds resonance in Federer’s style of play. The 20-year-old expressed his admiration for Federer’s elegance and playing style, stating, “I always say that my idol is Rafa but I want to say that I really want to play like Roger, I’m not gonna lie. You know, his style and elegance on the court is something amazing.”

Before his dominant victory over Marozsan, Alcaraz confessed to feeling nervous. He aims to become the first player to defend the Indian Wells title since Djokovic in 2016. However, facing Marozsan presented a challenge as the latter had a winning head-to-head record against Alcaraz.

Their sole prior encounter occurred in Rome, where the Hungarian secured a surprise victory last year. However, Alcaraz managed to avenge this defeat, expressing confidence in his ability to potentially secure another triumph in a venue where he feels particularly comfortable.

“Honestly, I was nervous before the match, I’m not going to lie,” Alcaraz admitted during a press conference. “Playing against someone who defeated you easily – I recall having no chances in the Rome match. It was challenging for me today to approach the match, but I’m genuinely pleased with my performance.”