Carlos Alcaraz is ranked 6th in the ATP rankings. © APA / afp / GABRIEL BOUYS
19-year-old Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz has been shaking up the tennis scene for a few months and is one of the most impressive teenagers in many years.
21. May 2022
From: apa
Whether Dominic Thiem, Alexander Zverev or Stefanos Tsitsipas and of course Daniil Medvedev: names like these have tried in recent years to finally end the dominance of the “big three”. But when Rafael Nadal or Novak Djokovic are in top form, it’s still difficult to knock them out in Grand Slam tennis tournaments. But one name has become the most promising contender of the younger generation in the past twelve months: Carlos Alcaraz.
Already at the age of 16 “Carlitos”, as he would like to be called, was predicted a great future. And the Alcaraz share has risen enormously within a year. This is not only evident from the four tournament victories this year in Rio de Janeiro, Barcelona and the ATP Masters 1000 events in Miami and Madrid. In the ATP ranking, a few days after his 19th birthday (May 5th), he has already climbed to sixth place. Strong upward trend. A year ago Alcaraz was still a qualifier in Roland Garros, now he is a serious contender for the title.
The Spaniard had a lot to celebrate this year. © ANSA / ERIK S. LESSER
He is often compared to Nadal, his idol, whom he recently defeated for the first time in the quarterfinals in Madrid. Even if Nadal, Djokovic and Roger Federer, who is still working on his comeback at the age of almost 41, are absolutely exceptional figures in tennis history: experts trust an Alcaraz, who is already such a complete player, to follow in these huge footsteps.
“Yes, I am ready to win a Grand Slam and go for it. It’s my goal this year, let’s see what happens in Roland Garros,” he said beforehand. But the comparisons with the greats can also suffocate a young talent because of the high expectations. Djokovic and Nadal also warn of this. “I generally don’t like comparisons. Everyone is special. But he is already breaking many records as a teenager. He is by far the best player in the world this year, no question,” Djokovic also admitted.
Nadal also only found words of praise. © APA / afp / ANDREAS SOLARO
Nadal also thinks that Alcaraz should be allowed to “enjoy his personal career”. But what makes his young compatriot so promising? “Carlos plays with a lot of adrenaline, with momentum. When his adrenaline surges, he’s virtually unstoppable. Then there are mistakes, but that’s logical because he plays with a lot of risk.”
However, the game with the “laughing third party” can also turn in the other direction. A Rafael Nadal is and remains, if his body holds up, the king of Paris.
