Carlos Alcaraz: Stop comparing Miami Open champion to Rafael Nadal, pleads former world No 1

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Carlos Alcaraz in action

“We have to let Carlos Alcaraz be his own person,” says Andy Roddick as the comparisons with Rafael Nadal continued following the teenager’s Miami Open title run.

Alcaraz lifted his first ATP Masters 1000 title on Sunday as he became the youngest Miami champion when he defeated Casper Ruud in the final. At 18 years and 333 days, he is also the third youngest player behind Michael Chang and Nadal to win a Masters trophy.

The 18-year-old is also the first Spaniard to win the title in Florida as Nadal, for all his achievements, hasn’t won the Miami title.

There are, of course, naturally comparisons with his compatriot Nadal, but former world No 1 Roddick says it is unfair on the youngster.

“I can’t mention anything about Alcaraz on Twitter without someone automatically saying, ‘Well, Rafa did this’ and ‘You know, Rafa did that’,” the Tennis Channel pundit said.

“We have to let this guy be his own person. And he seems comfortable in his own skin. He seems comfortable with the way he plays. I just don’t think it’s going to faze him.”

When asked if he had seen had seen anyone like Alcaraz before, Roddick did concede that sometimes you have to compare “apples to apples”.

He added: “Yes, his name is Rafa. His name was Roger. His name was Andre [Agassi] at a certain time. The company he is keeping with these comparisons elicit that sort of name to make an apples-to-apples comparison.”

Andy Roddick Carlos Alcaraz Rafael Nadal

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