Carlos Alcaraz just won his 100th match at a Grand Slam, and the manner in which he reached that milestone tells you everything about what kind of player he’s becoming. His record through those 100 matches stands at 87-13, matching Bjorn Borg’s legendary mark from decades ago.
Any time your name appears in the same sentence as Bjorn Borg, you’re doing something right. The Swedish legend represents an era of dominance that few have matched, and Alcaraz has equaled his Grand Slam winning percentage before his 23rd birthday. The achievement is absurd on its face, but it’s hardly the most remarkable thing about the young Spaniard.
He’s already the youngest World #1 in ATP history. That’s one superlative. Here’s another that might be even more significant: he might be the most complete tennis player we’ve ever seen at this stage of his career.
Before the inevitable protests begin about Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, or Rafael Nadal, the qualifier matters. At this stage of his career, at 22 years old, Alcaraz possesses a more well-rounded game than any of those legends did at the same age. John McEnroe said it years ago, and he was right then: he’d never seen a player this good at this many things this young. That assessment has only become more accurate with time.
What Makes Him Different
Start with the obsession. Have you ever watched a player smile as much on a tennis court as Alcaraz does? The joy radiates from him during matches, even in the difficult moments. That genuine love for the sport underpins everything he does and gives him an advantage that’s easy to overlook.
When you enjoy what you do this much, the brutal training required to reach this level becomes easier to sustain. The hours in the gym, the repetitive drills, the physical punishment of professional tennis, it all becomes more bearable when the sport itself brings you genuine happiness.
The talent is obvious. Nobody reaches this level without exceptional natural ability, but what Alcaraz and his team have done is refine that raw talent into something frighteningly effective. The work ethic can’t be forgotten.
Then there’s the confidence, which he possesses in abundance without letting it tip into arrogance. He’s not immune to self-doubt; he’s human and those moments show up in matches, but he’s learned not to let uncertainty become destructive. That’s a rare quality in someone so young.
His serve deserves special attention. For a player barely over six feet tall, what he’s developed is remarkable. Calling it the best serve relative to height might be hyperbolic, but not by much. It’s already a weapon, and he’s shown no signs of stopping the improvement process. With his work ethic, why would he?
The power he generates from both wings is genuinely uncommon. He can hit ball speeds over 130 mph from both the forehand and backhand sides, which sounds absurd because it is. Most players can’t generate that kind of pace consistently from one wing, let alone both. Add precision to that power and you’ve created a nightmare scenario for opponents.
Just reading about these qualities sounds exhausting. Imagine standing across the net trying to handle it for three or five sets. Factor in his movement, which is great, and his effectiveness on all surfaces, and you’re facing something that feels almost unfair.
That’s what allowed him to match Borg’s record on the way to 100 Grand Slam wins. That’s what makes him the player he is right now. These same qualities will carry him forward as he chases his stated goal of becoming the best player in history. Talking about that goal seriously is premature as he has years of work ahead and no guarantees, but what he’s accomplished already belongs in the category of legendary careers. If everything continues to develop, if the body holds up and the motivation remains, this could be one of those rare careers that transcends the sport. In many ways it already is, and he’s only 22. That’s the most absurd part of all of this. The most complete player of his age in tennis history, on a journey to become the best ever. The early returns suggest he might actually pull it off. Main Photo Credit Albert Cesare/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
