Carlos Alcaraz, Holger Rune compared to Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic ahead of Wimbledon clash
Mats Wilander has likened Carlos Alcaraz and Holger Rune to Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic ahead of the young duo’s Wimbledon encounter.
The seven-time Grand Slam winner feels the match-up could be similar to clashes between the two legends “because of the tennis and the mindset.”
Alcaraz will face Rune in the quarter-finals of the 2023 Wimbledon Championships on Wednesday. It is the first time both players have progressed to the last eight at the All England Club.
World No 1 Alcaraz’s previous best result was reaching the last 16 on his second appearance last year. World No 6 Rune, meanwhile, lost in the opening round on his Wimbledon debut last year.
Rune won the only previous tour-level meeting between the pair at the Paris Masters last year, with Alcaraz retiring due to injury when trailing 3-6, 6-6.
Former world No 1 Wilander believes the match between the two 20-year-old stars is comparable to a Nadal-Djokovic encounter.
“We could potentially be looking at the Nadal and Djokovic match-up here because of the tennis and the mindset. They are both great competitors and they don’t mind the big stage, in fact they love the big stage,” Wilander told Eurosport.
“Alcaraz has had a little more success on tour but Holger Rune is an incredible tennis player and is growing every day, not just in his tennis but his body language is getting better and better.
“In that last round against Grigor Dimitrov I was like ‘is that the same player that I have been seeing for the last 12 months? This [quarter-final] is a brilliant match.
“The foot speed around the court, that’s why I bring up Nadal and Djokovic, they are such great athletes, both of them, the strength in their legs, they move so well, which is why I think they are doing well on grass.
“They hit drop shots, they come to the net, they are very complete. Holger Rune serves better but there will be a lot of rallies because they are not serving as big as Andy Roddick or Goran Ivanisevic. There will be a lot of rallies.”
The Swede also lauded the Grand Slam results the pair have already achieved, while suggesting both are genuine contenders to win the Wimbledon title.
“They are so young and they are making the quarters at the French and then at Wimbledon, that’s absolutely incredible. With Alcaraz and Rune we don’t really know exactly where they are,” added Wilander.
“We didn’t think Boris Becker was going to win in 1985, and we didn’t think he was going to win until he got to the quarters or semis, and I think Alcaraz and Rune can do that. They can take it to the next level and another level.”
