Carlos Alcaraz news: Spaniard tipped to win ‘double digit’ Grand Slam titles

ATP Tour
A moment of delight for Carlos Alcaraz

Tennis legend Chris Evert has predicted Miami Open champion Carlos Alcaraz could go on and win an abundance of Grand Slam titles just like his fellow Spaniard Rafael Nadal.

Alcaraz was the youngest player ever to win in Miami when he beat Casper Rudd last weekend and earlier on in the year he won the Rio Open, and it’s performances like these which have got people talking.

Evert hasn’t been the only one to make this prediction, but she also believes Alcaraz is following in the footsteps of the 21 time Grand Slam winner Nadal.

“When Alcaraz lost to Nadal in Indian Wells, Nadal was talking about him and he said he’s humble, passionate and strong, after he said all these superlatives I just said to myself, ‘Wait he’s talking about himself,’ and sure enough that’s why he’s the heir apparent to Nadal because he’s got all those intangible qualities that are so appealing,” the 18 time major champion explained.

“Like being humble and being passionate, along with the physical tools, his movement and the fact that he has no weaknesses.

“He’s got the whole package and I know I’m just sounding like everyone else when I say he’s going to win multiple Grand Slams but he could be in the double digits in Grand Slams and become No 1, there’s just nothing preventing him in my eyes.”

Evert also compared the Spanish youngster to another talented player, this time in the form of Roger Federer, for the innate belief he has in himself.

“All the great champions that had longevity, like Federer, Nadal, Martina Navratilova and Steffi Graf, have that belief and I think it’s innate and I would not expect anything less, I think that’s one of the intangibles of a champion,” the 67-year-old added.

“The intangibles are harder to see when you’re watching a player, you don’t know what they’re thinking or what they’re feeling but that is 50% of the whole package – the belief that they have and how they problem solve and that’s all as important as the toolbox that you have as a player.

“And by believing in himself and saying it outright, he has sent out a message to other players, like ‘I feel like I belong here and I’m going to achieve many things and you’re not going to stop me.'”

Alcaraz is now ranked as the world No 11.

Carlos Alcaraz Chris Evert Rafael Nadal

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