Carlos Alcaraz and Roger Federer at last year’s Laver Cup (Image: Getty)
Carlos Alcaraz is already a more complete player than at the same age, according to former world No.1 Mats Wilander. The Spaniard, 21, will have to wait at least another year before completing the career set of Grand Slam titles at the after losing to the 10-time Melbourne Park champion in a
However, it is surely a case of when, not if, gets his hands on the top prize Down Under, having already won (twice), the French Open and the US Open. Federer was 21 when he won the first of his 20 Grand Slam titles at in 2003. But it’s not just their early stats that put Alcaraz ahead of Federer, says Wilander.
“To win on grass, clay and hard court at that age is extraordinary,” the Eurosport pundit told “Carlos is one of the most complete players I’ve ever seen at that age.
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“He’s already more complete than Federer at 21. He is by far the most exciting player at the moment, and he is someone people expect to be in the top three for at least the next decade.”
Asked what music he would compare Alcaraz to, Wilander chose Queen and their legendary late lead singer Freddie Mercury. He explained: “There’s a combination of things that when you listen to Queen you’re like, ‘Wow, what did they just do? How can you be good at this? How can Freddie Mercury sing like this and then sing like that?’ And for me, that’s Carlos. It’s not that Carlos can do all different things, it’s that he does them at unexpected moments.”
Wilander expects Alcaraz to be pushed all the way by current world No.1 while he can see Djokovic adding to his record tally of 24 Grand Slam titles. The Swede, 60, added: “Going forward, I expect Carlos, and the others to do what they did last year,. I don’t see Novak [Djokovic] not winning something, but now it’s really about the next generation of players. could also win a major or two, so it will be a very exciting year.”
Carlos Alcaraz after his quarter-final defeat to Novak Djokovic in Melbourne (Image: Getty)
Alcaraz will have to watch from afar as Sinner faces Ben Shelton and Djokovic goes up against Zverev in the last four in Melbourne. Djokovic, 37, has admitted he is concerned by the physical toll of his victory over Alcaraz has taken after suffering a leg injury.
“I have to assess the situation tomorrow when I wake up,” said Djokovic after the match, which started Tuesday night Melbourne time but went beyond midnight.
“I will try to do as much as I possibly can with my recovery team, with my physio, today, tomorrow, the next few days. Probably skip training tomorrow. I’ll see if I’m going to train in two days or not.
“I’ll take it day by day. Now it’s really about recovery. I’m concerned. I am, to be honest, physically. But, if I manage somehow to be physically good enough, I think mentally, emotionally, I’m as motivated as I can be.”