"Last year when he won this tournament I put him up there with Medvedev, Djokovic, and Nadal" - Martina Navratilova hails Carlos Alcaraz's potential

Martina Navratilova believes Carlos Alcaraz was always destined for great results as he emerged on the professional circuit as a 'complete' player. With Alcaraz increasingly being compared to the likes of Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Roger Federer, particularly since he won his first Major at the US Open and became world No. 1, Navratilova felt it was his performance in Miami last season that propelled him to the top.

Alcaraz is bidding to win the Miami Open this week for his fourth Masters 1000 title, just a year after winning his maiden Masters 1000 title at the same tournament. Ahead of his fourth-round match on Tuesday, the current world No. 1 has won 16 of his 17 matches so far this season, including eight in a row.

Reflecting on the Spaniard's rapid rise to the very top and his often supreme level of tennis, Navratilova believes the signs were always there. According to the American tennis great, Alcaraz is a serious contender at every Grand Slam tournament alongside Nadal, Djokovic, and Daniil Medvedev.

"Last year, when he (Carlos Alcaraz) won this tournament, I put him up there with Medvedev, Djokovic, and Nadal, since Federer wasn't playing, in the Top-4 in a Major. I saw it," Martina Navratilova said in a segment for Tennis Channel on the sidelines of the 2023 Miami Open.

The 18-time Grand Slam singles champion hailed Alcaraz for further improving himself despite having arrived as a "full-court player with no weaknesses."

"It wasn't an accident the way he played here. He's been improving so much but already came to the tour as a full-on player, full-court, no weaknesses, and then he made the strengths even stronger. By far, he's the best mover on the court," she added.

There is a lot at stake for Alcaraz in Miami this week as the 19-year-old needs to successfully defend his title to retain the world No. 1 ranking ahead of Djokovic. The Spaniard is also aiming to become the youngest man to win the Sunshine Double.

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"He doesn't feel the pressure that much because he's in it for the long term" - Martina Navratilova on Carlos Alcaraz

Carlos Alcaraz competes during the 2023 Miami Open.

While comparisons between Carlos Alcaraz and the Big 3 do not seem to be going away in the future, Martina Navratilova feels the youngster might not feel too pressured by the same as he knows he has at least 10-15 years ahead of himself in his bid to become the greatest of all time and does not need to prove much in the short term. Alcaraz is in it for the long haul, Navratilova stressed.

"The comparisons are apt, the expectations are there. But I think he (Carlos Alcaraz) doesn't feel the pressure that much himself because he's in it for the long term," Navratilova said on the same.

"He's thinking, 'I'm going to be the greatest of all time,' which is going to take 10 years plus, maybe 15. So he's in it for the long term, which takes the pressure off for the moment."

Meanwhile, in his immediate bid to win the 2023 Miami Open, Alcaraz will face Tommy Paul in the Round of 16 on Tuesday. If he wins his ninth consecutive match, Alcaraz will set up a blockbuster quarterfinal clash with either Holger Rune or Taylor Fritz.