Tennis has always been a fertile ground for youngsters. The likes of Jimmy Connors, Pete Sampras, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic all became great from a very young age. Carlos Alcaraz has recently been added to that chain of great players since after he became the youngest player to be the season’s year-ending No. 1, at just 19.
The Spanish star turned pro in 2018, had to wait patiently and train hard to earn his first ATP trophy at the 2021 Croatian Open and is now the world No. 2 with two Grand Slams to his name.
Rick Macci hails Carlos Alcaraz
Ex-Serena and Venus Williams coach Rick Macci has described Carlos Alcaraz as a combination of four of the best players (Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Andre Agassi) in the history of the sport. Carlos Alcaraz announced himself on the tennis world stage when he shockingly won the 2022 US Open at the age of 19, and defeated Novak Djokovic at the 2023 Wimbledon Final to add a second Grand Slam title.
He was part of four players that defeated Novak Djokovic this season, with the likes of Holger Rune, Jannik Sinner and Dominic Thiem taking win against the world No.1. However, Rick Macci believes Alcaraz is a talent like no other and tipped him to win “a bucket of Grand Slams” during his career.
“Alcaraz, we’ve never seen anything like this,” Macci said, on the Match Point Canada Podcast per Eurosport. “We’ve never seen it. He is a combination of, I tell everybody, [Roger] Federer, [Rafael] Nadal, Djokovic and [Andre] Agassi, all wrapped in one. He has make-up speed like no other. Once he hits that other gear his turbo speed is amazing.”
“He has a drop shot from outer space. He has missed more drop shots as a kid than anybody who has played tennis because he has tried more – and whoever coached him as a kid would not discourage that,” the tennis coach added. “I think he is going to get such a bucket of Grand Slams, it’s unreal. I feel, in my opinion, he is by far, the leader in the clubhouse.”
Carlos Alcaraz career highlights
Carlos Alcaraz kicked form in 2021, after winning his first ATP 250 title at the Croatia Open in Umag. The Spanish star went on to win his first ATP 1000 Masters in Miami the following year. He took over from his fellow compatriot and legend Rafael Nadal and won the Barcelona Open and Madrid Masters in 2022 and 2023.
In September last year, the youngster turned famous after winning his first Grand Slam at the US Open in New York.
This season, Alcaraz won his first title at the Argentina Open in Buenos Aires and went on to win the Indian Wells Masters. In July, the Spaniard won his second Grand Slam title in Wimbledon after defeating Novak Djokovic in an epic five-set thriller that lasted more than four hours.
Carlos Alcaraz fell to Novak Djokovic in the battle for the world No.1 year-end position after consecutive losses at the China Open, Shanghai Masters, and Paris Masters, yet the tennis star still kept his record 65–12 win-loss tally with 84.4% win.
