Carlos Alcaraz described as ‘the chosen one’ and backed to lead tennis along with Jannik Sinner
Carlos Alcaraz “transmits joy” and he is the future of tennis along with Jannik Sinner, according to Madrid Open Tournament Director Feliciano Lopez.
Teen sensation Alcaraz burst onto the scene last year as he won four titles – including ATP Masters 1000 trophies in Miami and Madrid – in the first half of the season to surge up the ATP Rankings. He was then elevated to the very top in September as he won his maiden Grand Slam, the US Open at Flushing Meadows, with the win also helping to become the youngest-ever world No 1.
The 19-year-old has struggled with injuries since then as he missed the ATP Finals in November last year and this year’s Australian Open before making a return for the Sunshine Double where he won the Indian Wells Open and reached the semi-final in Miami.
Many believe Alcaraz will go on to dominate the sport once Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic join Roger Federer in retirement.
Former world No 12 Lopez feels Alcaraz, Sinner – who defeated the Spaniard in Miami last week – and Stefanos Tsitipas will rule the roost with the former two the future of the sport.
“Carlitos, Sinner and Stefanos Tsitsipas, who is a little older, are the tennis players I like the most,” he told Spain’s EFE news agency.
“Carlos and Jannik, whose battles are extremely tough, will be the ones who will lead world tennis in the future and I’ll stay with Alcaraz because he does a lot of different things on the court, with a wide variety of strokes, and I really enjoy watching him.”
Lopez added: “He is a chosen one, someone with charisma who has reached No 1 at the age of 19, having just won a Grand Slam and who has very good values and transmits joy.”
Alcaraz is once again out injured and he will miss next week’s Monte Carlo Masters due to injury with Nadal also absent from the ATP Masters 1000 entry list as he is still recovering from his hip problem.
Lopez is hopeful that the two Spanish giants will recover in time for the Madrid Open, which gets underway on April 24.
“I trust that Nadal and Alcaraz will do well in the next tournaments,” Lopez said. “Hopefully, Carlos will play with Djokovic again in Madrid and we will also have Rafa, who if he is healthy, will surely fight again for the big titles. In 2023, there is no clear favorite on clay.”
READ MORE: ATP Rankings: Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz ‘going in circles’, Jannik Sinner back in top 10
