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Alcaraz leads tennis into new golden age

rugby14 July 2024 17:19| © AFP
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Carlos Alcaraz © Gallo Images

Carlos Alcaraz not only swept past Novak Djokovic in the Wimbledon final on Sunday, the charismatic Spaniard's fourth Grand Slam triumph confirmed a generational shift in men's tennis.

He has won three of the past five majors and has joined Bjorn Borg, Boris Becker and Mats Wilander as the only men to claim four majors at the age of 21 or under.

That is an achievement that proved beyond even Djokovic, the retired Roger Federer and injury-plagued Rafael Nadal, the three men who collected 66 Grand Slams in a golden age that appeared to have reached its end with defeat for the 37-year-old Serb on Sunday.

Alcaraz's coach Juan Carlos Ferrero once predicted that his compatriot would win 30 Grand Slams.

He already has a comfortable head start.

Djokovic may have 24 Slams but after capturing his first at the 2008 Australian Open as a 20-year-old he had to wait three more years for his second.

Federer, who finished his career with 20 Slams, managed the 2003 Wimbledon title as a 21-year-old.

Alcaraz's compatriot Nadal, the holder of 22 majors, had three at 21 – all at the French Open, in 2005, 2006 and 2007.

Alcaraz's Grand Slam collection currently comprises the 2022 US Open, the 2023 and 2024 Wimbledon titles and last month's triumph at the French Open.

He is yet to lose a Slam final and is only the sixth man to win Roland Garros and Wimbledon back-to-back.

His win in Paris last month made him the youngest man to claim majors on all three surfaces – clay, hard and grass – and before he turns 22 in May next year, he could move to six Slams.

Should he triumph for the first time in Australia he would depose Nadal as the youngest man to complete a career Grand Slam.

"I normally call Federer the greatest player of all time, and that has nothing to do with the statistics or the results," Wilander told eurosport.com.

"It has to do with what he meant for the sport, the expectations that people had. Carlos Alcaraz is going through the same thing."

Much has been made of the new rivalry of Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, the beanpole Italian who took Djokovic's Australian Open title and his world No 1 ranking this year.

SINNER RIVALRY

However, Alcaraz, as well as being 21 months younger, has a better record at the Slams than Sinner, who won his maiden Slam in January.

Alcaraz enjoys a 5-4 head-to-head advantage over Sinner, including a five-set triumph in the semifinals at Roland Garros this year.

"What he's doing, having won the title at Roland Garros, flipping the switch to prepare on grass and reach the final, is scandalous," said Ferrero.

Alcaraz, who hails from the small Murcian town of El Palmar in Spain's south-east, hit the giant-killing jackpot at Madrid in 2022 when he became the only man to defeat both Nadal and Djokovic at the same clay-court event.

"Carlos's intensity and speed is something you rarely see," said Rafael Nadal's uncle and former coach Toni Nadal.

"His game follows the same path as Rafa – he never gives up until the last ball and has that characteristic intensity."

Nadal, who will play with Alcaraz in the doubles at the Paris Olympics, has acted as his mentor and pleaded with fans not to put pressure on his young compatriot by making bold comparisons.

'EXTRAORDINARY'

"I forgot what I was like at 19," said Nadal, now 38.

"The only thing we can do is enjoy the career of an extraordinary player like Carlos.

"If he manages to win 25 Grand Slams, it will be fantastic for him and for our country. But let him enjoy his career."

Despite Nadal's reservations, making comparisons is unavoidable.

Nadal won the first of his 92 titles at Sopot at the age of 18 in 2004.

Alcaraz was also 18 when he captured his maiden ATP trophy at Umag in 2021.

Both men are fiercely protective of their private lives, enjoy passionate crowd support.

"I know that I am a very competitive kid. I compete whenever I play anything – golf, petanca," said Alcaraz. "I don't like to lose."

Alcaraz's raw potential as a teenager quickly attracted sponsors, with marquee brands such as Nike and Rolex rushing to sign up Nadal's heir apparent.

His win on Sunday has taken his career earnings to $35 million already.

"If Alcaraz stays healthy then he'll go down as one of the best to ever play the game, that's for sure. Who's going to stop him?" said Australian star Nick Kyrgios.

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