Exclusive: Bjorn Borg backs flawless Carlos Alcaraz to be No.1 for 'many years', hopes to see Rafa Nadal at French Open
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Published 05/05/2023 at 17:31 GMT
Carlos Alcaraz has "no weaknesses" and will occupy the world No. 1 spot for "many years", 11-time Grand Slam winner Bjorn Borg has told Eurosport. The Swedish great was impressed by Alcaraz's display as he beat Borna Coric to reach the Madrid Open final. Borg also said he's hoping Rafael Nadal can recover in time for Roland Garros after his withdrawal from the Rome Masters.
Borg backs Alcaraz to be No. 1 for 'many years', hopes for Nadal French Open comeback
Flawless Carlos Alcaraz will be world No. 1 for “many years”, according to Bjorn Borg, who is crossing his fingers that Rafael Nadal can recover from injury in time to feature at the French Open.
Alcaraz celebrated his 20th birthday by progressing to the Madrid Open final with a straight-sets win over Borna Coric on Friday.
The Spaniard is closing in on ousting Novak Djokovic from the top of the ATP rankings; victory in the Madrid final against Jan-Lennard Struff or Aslan Karatsev would mean he just needs to compete at the Rome Masters to become No. 1 again.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Eurosport, 11-time Grand Slam winner Borg waxed lyrical about the Spaniard’s potential.
“After this week he’s going to be No. 1 in the world, and I think he’s going to be staying there for many years,” Borg said.
“The way he plays, the way he moves, I like the whole game. No weaknesses.
“This was a semi-final today, I think he has a good chance to win the final. But to watch this guy play is unbelievable, I’m very impressed.”
There was bad news to go with the good for Spanish tennis fans, though, as Nadal announced his withdrawal from next week’s event in Rome.
The record 14-time Roland Garros winner has been battling injury since the start of the year and his hopes of being fit in time to defend his Paris crown at the end of the month appear to be growing slimmer by the week.
“Rafa is a good friend of mine. I know he’s struggling a little bit with his body, I’ve known that for a long time,” Borg said.
“Unfortunately, he’s not going to play Rome, but we want to see him at the French Open. If he’s not going to be fit, he’s not going to play.
“But Rafa is Rafa, he’s one of the greatest ever to play the game. I hope he is going to play the French Open.”
Pressed on whether he still believes Nadal can come back in time, Borg smiled and said: “Maybe.”
Nadal was last seen on a tennis court at the Australian Open in January, when he suffered a second-round exit to Mackenzie McDonald while nursing a hip injury.
The 36-year-old ‘King of Clay’ missed clay season events in Monte Carlo, Barcelona and Madrid before announcing that he was withdrawing from Rome too.
"You all know how much it hurts me to miss another one of the tournaments that have marked my professional and personal career for all the love and support of the Italian tifosi,” Nadal said.
The French Open takes place from May 22 to June 11 in Paris.
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