19-year-old Carlos Alcaraz is back at the top of the world rankings after his triumph in Indian Wells. Tennis expert Chris Evert is blown away and praises the teenager in the highest tones.
“I don’t know how he can improve,” says the 68-year-old Interview with “Eurosport” after Carlos Alcaraz’s demonstration of power in the final against Daniil Medvedev who had no chance. The nice thing about his game is that he has no weaknesses. From this, the 18-time Grand Slam winner concludes: “The opponents don’t stand a chance unless he’s having a bad day.” That was actually the case in the Indian Wells finals. Medvedev, who had previously won 19 games in a row, lost 6-3, 6-2 to Alcaraz in just 70 minutes.
He is excellent defensively and offensively, Evert considers the young Spaniard to be a “born champion” who has everything that is needed for a successful career, including self-confidence. “He thinks he has to win every game and exudes pure passion and joy every time he hits the ball,” said Evert.
The comparison with the Big Three
With his triumph at the US Open last year, he reached the top. Everts even goes so far and says: “I think we’re seeing a new level, a higher level of tennis. You think we’ve seen the best in Novak, Roger and Rafa, but in some decades a player who plays at an even higher level seems to emerge. I think the current decade is one of those.” Because when Alcaraz is playing his best tennis, he is unbeatable.
Imago
She believes the Spaniard can win several major titles, because 2023 will “definitely be the year”. Everts already has tingles in her stomach when she thinks about games against Nadal or Djokovic. “These games will be electric, we will see an even higher level of tennis.”
It might be a bit premature to put Alcaraz on the same level as the big players. Because a Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal or Novak Djokovic is also characterized by the fact that they have played at the highest level for years or still do. In that regard, the young Spaniard has yet to prove he can compete with the Big Three.
Is Carlos Alcaraz really even stronger than Federer and Co.?