‘Broadway performer’ Carlos Alcaraz backed to ‘go places that we’ve never seen in the game of tennis’

Carlos Alcaraz has been described as the “leader in the clubhouse” and has the ability to win any tournament that he plays, according to legendary coach Rick Macci.

Aged just 20, Alcaraz is currently the main attraction in tennis as he has already won two Grand Slam titles after adding the Wimbledon trophy to the US Open silverware he won in September last year.

The Spaniard defeated all-time great Novak Djokovic in the Wimbledon final in June to win the 12th title on his young career while last year he became the youngest world No 1 when he topped the ATP Rankings at aged 19 following his success at Flushing Meadows.

Many pundits, former players, coaches and fans believe Alcaraz will go on to be an all-time great and esteemed coach Macci – who mentored the likes of Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Jennifer Carpriati, Maria Sharapova and Andy Roddick in the past – is of a similar opinion.

In an interview with Tennis-infinity.com, he said: “I think he can win any tournament that he plays. But that being said, no one’s going undefeated. No one’s gonna win all the time. He’s gonna lose.

“Anything’s possible, especially in men’s tennis, because if someone’s serving big and hitting the corners, you get into a tie-breaker, anything’s possible.

“But he’s the leader in the clubhouse. And barring injury, this guy can go places that maybe we’ve never seen in the game of tennis. Anything’s possible with this guy.”

Alcaraz started off as a bit of a clay-court specialist, but it wasn’t too long before he mastered the art of playing on hard courts as his first ATP Masters 1000 title came on the surface at the Miami Open last year while he also went on to win the US Open last year.

This year he has upped his game on grass as he won the Queen’s Club Championship and Wimbledon.

Macci added: “Even I think his best surface might be hard court simply because of his movement. The way he can stop and start, and he can slide, his movement is even better, in my opinion, on hard court. That being said, the serve, even though it’s effective on a hard court, on grass, people can hurt him more.

“You know, you can hurt people more on grass. So the hard court, it’s gonna be a little easier, generally speaking, the return. And I think when he plays on the hard court, from what I’ve seen, he’s a little more authoritative, and he’s a little more aggressive. He’ll take your second serve and come in.

“But more importantly, the guy’s a Broadway performer. You know, he loves the pressure. He loses 20-ball rallies and smiles. He has gratitude. His two best assets, in my opinion, are his mom and dad. You know, the way he’s wired.”

READ MORE: ‘The Carlos Alcaraz effect got to Novak Djokovic in Wimbledon final’