Carlos Alcaraz’s sensational victory at the US Open has subsequently catapulted him to global superstardom. As we say goodbye to one of the game’s greatest players, Roger Federer, many see more than a passing similarity in the young talent. His youthful exuberance and big match temperament are almost a mirror image of a young Federer.
His maiden triumph coincided with usurping the #1 ranking in the game. Not bad for a precocious nineteen-year-old. His ascent to the summit of the men’s game would even make the Big Thee green with envy.
Carlos Alcaraz: Career so Far
Six career titles, two ATP Masters titles, the US Open, and the official title of the best in the world, has made Alcaraz the hottest property in tennis. The kid from Murcia in the southeast of the Iberian Peninsula has finally broken the stranglehold that Federer, Djokovic, and Nadal maintained for the last twenty years. A stupendous feat if we consider the lost generation of exceptional players who were swatted away through their sheer dominance.
The sibling rivalry with his brothers or his ability to stay competitive, even when matched with far older players, has accelerated his phenomenal progress. Further development on the Challenger circuit was necessary to hone his skills before the ATP. We can speculate, but there is no doubt that this talent is a once-in-a-generation player, with the right team behind him and his continued dedication to his craft. Juan Carlos Ferrero as his coach was a masterstroke. The native Spaniard is a seasoned professional, well versed with the rigors and demands of the tour. Alcaraz is well on his way to chasing down his idols if he continues the upward trajectory that his tender age belies.
Can he continue to dominate?
The US Open is in the bag. Will this dominance translate on all surfaces? We have seen his exploits at the French, but does he have the game for the faster courts at Wimbledon? Does he have the serve and volley game needed, to complement his all-round game for ultimate success? His meteoric rise suggests that he has both the game and temperament to tweak his game if need be. We will be in the privileged position to watch this evolution in the coming years.
The threats to the new #1 will come thick and fast. Young guns Jannik Sinner, Felix Auger-Aliassime, and Francis Tiafoe all lie in wait. The more grizzled generation of Matteo Berrettini, Alexander Zverev, Stefanos Tsitsipas, and Casper Ruud are also champing at the bit. Men’s tennis is in a healthy space at last. New champions need anointment, as the game inevitably moves on from some of its greatest flagbearers. Tennis needs this timely injection of fresh blood. An ever-younger legion of fans craves new heroes to finally follow in the giant footsteps of the golden generation. In Carlos Alcaraz, we have the perfect foil for all the naysayers who question the future of the game sans the Big Three. He has time and wisdom on his side. Barring serious injury or a lack of focus, his career is destined for greatness. We wait in anticipation. Main Photo from Getty.
