Carlos Alcaraz popularity matched only by Roger Federer ‘in his heyday’, claims former world No 1

Ewan West
Carlos Alcaraz smiling Indian Wells 2024
Carlos Alcaraz smiling in Indian Wells

Mats Wilander has proclaimed that tennis icon Roger Federer “in his heyday” is the only player he has seen who could match “clear crowd favourite” Carlos Alcaraz in terms of popularity. 

The seven-time Grand Slam champion believes Alcaraz sent a statement to his rivals that he is the best player in the world “in the right conditions” with his triumph in Indian Wells.

Alcaraz claimed his first tournament victory in eight months at the 2024 Indian Wells Masters last week, where he defended his title with a straight sets final win over Daniil Medvedev.

The 20-year-old Spaniard ended world No 3 and Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner’s 19-match winning streak with a three-set semi-final win at the Masters 1000 event.

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Prior to Indian Wells, the world No 2 had not reached a final since losing to Novak Djokovic in the Cincinnati Masters title match in August. This was the only final he had reached after beating Djokovic to win the 2023 Wimbledon Championships in July.

Alcaraz is scheduled to face countryman Roberto Carballes Baena in his opening match at the Miami Open on Saturday, after rain delays restricted play on Friday.

He is looking to win a second title in Miami after claiming his first Masters 1000 crown at the event in 2022 and victory would see him complete the Sunshine Double for the first time.

Speaking to Eurosport, former world No 1 Wilander gave his assessment of Alcaraz’s title run in Indian Wells and the crowd support the two-time major winner received.

“I think for Carlos Alcaraz, this victory, even though somehow I think it was kind of expected – OK, he hasn’t won since Wimbledon, but clearly last year and the year before, we realised how good the conditions are in Indian Wells for him – and he seemed like he was playing good in the beginning,” the Swede said.

“I saw the first round where he lost a set, and then he got better and better. And first, the crowd loves him there like I’ve never seen a player, maybe Roger Federer in his heyday, but they go absolutely crazy for him there.

“It’s a lot of Hispanic people, he’s the clear crowd favourite. And I think there is a certain amount of pressure at the same time as I think he really loves just playing there.

“You can tell against Jannik Sinner, even if Sinner most probably hurt himself a little bit in one of those falls, but at the same time, it’s nearly impossible to beat Alcaraz on those courts.

“I think for him just to win on the courts, that I think are his favourite surface, I believe slow, hard courts, fast balls, because of the air being warm and a bit of altitude. This is Alcaraz’s territory. He’s always going to do well there, even if not in his best shape.

“But it did turn out he played well. He can play better, but I think it is a huge victory for his confidence and just to stabilise. ‘Hey, guys, I’m still here. You give me the right conditions; I am the best player in the world.’ That is kind of what he’s saying.”

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