Carlos Alcaraz has expressed a belief that Novak Djokovic shouldn't retire from tennis after beating the Serb to win the Australian Open title on Sunday.
The world No 1 won 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-5 to secure the seventh Grand Slam title of his career - as well as his first major on Australian soil.
Djokovic performed admirably, with the 38-year-old sensational in the early stages as he claimed the first set.
Yet the tennis legend ran out of steam and, given his age, some feel he'll never be able to triumph on the biggest stage of all ever again.
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Alcaraz, speaking in his post-match press conference, suggested that he feels Djokovic should keep playing because he showed enough quality to be competitive.
When asked about his rival, he said: "Well, as I said on the speech, what he’s doing is inspiring. It is inspiring for all the athletes.
"It’s not only tennis player but all the athletes, even myself, what he’s putting his body and his mind, his life into feel playing a final of a Grand Slam again, going against, you know, every people saying that he was not going to play another Grand Slam final or he was not going to beat Jannik [Sinner] or myself.
Carlos Alcaraz stands in a league of his own following his Australian Open win over Novak Djokovic | GETTY“Then he comes and playing such great tennis and beating Jannik in the semifinal, and here in the final played such great tennis. So it’s unbelievable what he’s doing.
“You know, if he maintains this level of tennis during the whole season, he’s going to, you know, win great things. You know, probably Master 1000 again.
"He’s going to come to a Grand Slam final again. It depends how physically he is or how demanding physically is the tournament for him, but I think he’s ready to keep winning the big tournaments in the tour.”
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Five facts for tennis fans | GETTY/PAAlcaraz was also asked if he'd look to make more history by winning all four majors in the same year.
With the French Open, Wimbledon and US Open to come, the 22-year-old admits that's a target - but knows it will be incredibly difficult.
“Well, it’s going to be a big challenge. Those are big words, to be honest," he said.
"You know, I just want it to be one at a time. Right now next one is French Open. I have great memories in that tournament. I feel really special every time that I go there.
“So I don’t want to put myself in a really pressure position to have to do it, but you know, it’s going to be great.
"Right now I will try to be ready, to work hard, you know, to just recover and practice well to play a good tournament in the next Grand Slam."
Novak Djokovic was outgunned by Carlos Alcaraz in Sunday's Australian Open final | GETTYWhen asked how it felt compared to his other triumphs, he added: "Well, it was a different preseason for me, so I just had to came back from unusual situation for me, which was difficult.
"A lot of people were talking about everything and having doubts about, you know, my level in this tournament.
“So, you know, every year that I came here to Australia I was thinking about getting the trophy. Couldn’t happen. Couldn’t go further than quarter-finals.
"You know, coming this year, hungry for more, ambitious for getting the trophy, and being strong mentally enough, not hearing anything or any words from the people.
"And then just playing a good tennis in this tournament means a lot, means the world to me, and it is a dream come true for me.”