“Carlos Alcaraz is going to be the best ever”

Rick Macci, a renowned 67-year-old American coach who launched the career of the sisters Venus and Serena Williams, has published a video in which he assures that “in the last 30 years” he has not seen “any player” like Carlos Alcaraz. The technician is now better known after being recreated by actor Jon Bernthal in the film King Richard (The Williams Method in Spain), which has given the Oscar for best leading performance to the controversial Will Smith, who plays Richard Williams, father of the legendary American tennis players. In the recording of his YouTube channel, Macci explains that in his long career he has seen “many players come and go, with a lot of potential. Federer and Rafa (Nadal) when he was young, Djoker (Djokovic)”, but none that represent “the complete pack”.

“This young man fulfills every section of the game and can create some more,” says the former coach, among others, of Andy Roddick, Jennifer Capriati and Maria Sharapova, and who has a prestigious school in Haines City, Florida. “Let me explain. The first thing is the movement on the court. His speed is crazy. He has something different genetically in the hip that allows him to generate a lot of power from the lower body. He is a really unique athlete. That makes him have a lot of torque and put out a lot of energy when he runs and he’s faster than anybody, unbelievable.”

“Secondly, his mentality, you can see a lot of Rafa in him, it has a lot to do with that of his idol (Nadal). He is patient, but what I like the most is that he is not afraid. I’ve never seen an 18-year-old boy play like him on the run and go from defense to attack in the blink of an eye. His ability to hit big on the run is mysterious. But he waits for it, that’s what makes him unique to me. Everyone sees how good it’s going to be. Except for some injury, he will be the best ever. I know that sounds like a crazy statement because he hasn’t even won a Grand Slam yet. But he is a generational talent, a once-in-a-lifetime tennis player,” he continues.

“Play from the heart”

“In addition, his game is very future. He knows how to hit him in every way, for example to hide drop shots. That adds another layer to his game because he is able to put you on guard so that you expect ‘the Spanish rifle’ and suddenly he catches you with those drops. The way that ‘switching the channel’ with them makes you have to make an extra effort while also intimidating you with their speed”, continues the American, USTA contributor and USPTA Hall of Famer.

“I reiterate that what I admire most about him (Alcaraz) is his mentality. He was born for greatness. I play from the heart. And when you do that, you don’t feel as much pressure. Everyone is nervous and feels pressure. But I have seen him play live and he does it from the heart. That’s why he doesn’t fear or panic. At the end of the day he is a ‘showman’, a performer who loves to compete against whoever he is and in any place and circumstance. What a model and what an athlete. He’s a rock and his serve can only get better, with some adjustments. In short, I had never seen this kind of talent in an 18-year-old boy. I expect greatness from him because he will be bigger, stronger and, incredible as it may seem, even faster. But when you have a capital C, confidence, you can do anything. It’s a crack, the best I’ve seen in 25 years “, she concludes.