‘Carlos Alcaraz has one trait that sets him apart from Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Ronaldo, Messi’
Carlos Alcaraz has been described as a tennis hybrid version of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, but he has one feature that neither footballer nor tennis greats Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have in their locker, according to a former world No 1.
World No 1 Alcaraz will feature in the semi-final at Wimbledon for the first time on Friday as he will take on third seed Daniil Medvedev on Centre Court.
The Spaniard booked his place in the last four on the back of another commanding display against fellow rising star Holger Rune and on the back of that match, former England international and football pundit Gary Linker dished out lavish praise.
“What a talent Carlos Alcaraz is. He looks and moves like a footballer, with the power and pace of a [Cristiano] Ronaldo, mixed with the deftness of touch and feel of a [Lionel] Messi, but with a racquet,” the BBC Match of the Day presenter tweeted.
But former world No 1 Mats Wilander went further as he explained that Alcaraz has a trick up his sleeve that neither Ronaldo and Messi nor Federer and Nadal have.
“I agree with the analysis, but he left out the most important part, because maybe there isn’t a footballer that does it – the smile that he brings to the Centre Court,” the Swede told Eurosport.
“When there’s pressure, he’s still out there having a great time and you can see he’s having a great time because he’s smiling…
“That is so new. Not even the great Roger Federer did that. Rafa [Nadal] certainly not, Novak [Djokovic] once in a while, but not in the same way.
“Obviously I’m very high on Carlos Alcaraz as a tennis player, but as a human he’s bringing a new thing to tennis that we’ve never had before.”
What a talent, @carlosalcaraz is. He looks and moves like a footballer, with the power and pace of a Ronaldo, mixed with the deftness of touch and feel of a Messi, but with a racket.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) July 12, 2023
Alcaraz, the reigning US Open champion who became the youngest world No 1 last year, has been tipped to be the face of tennis for the next few decades.
Wilander believes the 20-year-old has brought a different persona to the sport.
“He’s a great tennis player, but also a great role model because of his attitude,”
“He brings the other player into a situation where they are also excited to play against him because there are so many great points, drop shots and lobs, tweeners, then there’s the ‘Vamos!’
“I guess if you’re an opponent you’re like ‘what is he doing, is he playing like an exhibition sometimes?’
“I think the players really enjoy it and when you see the handshakes it’s clear they enjoy playing Carlos whether they beat him or not.”
