Carlos Alcaraz's outrageous talent has tennis legend Chris Evert 'in awe, flabbergasted' ahead of French Open
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Published 21/03/2023 at 14:32 GMT
World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz has left tennis legend Chris Evert in no doubt at all that he can continue to rise as a genuine superstar for the next era of men's tennis. The 19-year-old, fresh off his stunning triumph at Indian Wells, is targeting more glory at the Miami Open before he goes in search of a second Grand Slam singles title at the French Open. Evert believes he has everything required.
'We're seeing a new, higher level of tennis' - Evert on Alcaraz brilliance
Eurosport expert Chris Evert has been left "in awe" and "flabbergasted" by the excellence shown by Carlos Alcaraz in his return from injury ahead of the French Open.
The Spaniard stormed past the previously in-form Daniil Medvedev in electrifying fashion to clinch a straight-sets win, 6-3 6-2, and seal the Indian Wells title in California, while he usurped Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic at the summit of the men's game in the process.
Alcaraz, who did not lose a set in six Indian Wells matches, has made a dominant return to the ATP Tour after he was forced to miss the opening Grand Slam of the season at Melbourne Park due to injury. He now surely looks set to make a convincing run at Roland-Garros.
The triumph has seen the 19-year-old emulate his legendary compatriot, Rafael Nadal, in being the only two men's players to have racked up three Masters 1000 crowns as a teenager and Evert could not be more impressed by what she has seen from him.
"I don't know how he can improve anymore," Evert told Eurosport's Arnold Montgault. "The beauty of his game is that he has no weaknesses whatsoever for any of his opponents to have a chance unless he's having a bad day.
"Other top players in the past, they've been brilliant, but you always felt like there was some sort of weakness in their game or something they could really magnify and bring out. Carlos, the way he is defensively, and the way he is offensively, no other player can do those two aspects as well as he can.
"He is the best mover on the ATP Tour by far, I think. He has the mental component as well, which is confidence - he thinks he should win any match that he plays, and he has sheer passion and delight every time he hits a ball. He's just very creative and he adapts very well.
"I think this is definitely going to be his year. I don't see how it can't be unless he gets injured. I have high expectations. Some majors, maybe more than one, and maybe some good rivalries will come out of the men's side as well.
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Highlights: Alcaraz beats Medvedev to claim Indian Wells title and return to world No. 1
"I want to say he is the epitome of what an athlete should be, with the qualities, and the tool-set. He was born to be a champion. He was born to be brilliant in the field of tennis, and he's got the tool-set as well as the championship intangible qualities like focus, hunger and passion.
"I just think if he stays the course and doesn't try to get too over the top with his creativity and with his imagination if he just stays the course and carries on that momentum that we just saw at Indian Wells, I think he is the number one in the world right now. He is going to win multiple majors.
"I'm in awe when I watch him, I'm flabbergasted. I'm just in disbelief at how well he moves, and how he improvises and adapts to certain situations. I think we're seeing a new level, a higher level of tennis. You always think you've seen the greatest with Roger and Rafa and Novak, but every decade it just seems like there appears a player that is at even a higher level than the former champion."
Looking ahead to what Alcaraz can achieve, Evert made it clear that she regards it as a "fact that on any surface he can excel and he can win major titles" - including Wimbledon on grass courts.
"I think he will bring the level up of Jannik Sinner, Taylor Fritz, Daniil Medvedev and the players that are going to be the new leaders in the men's game," he said. "I think Carlos will improve their game because they're going to have to play better than their best when they play him if they want to beat him. He's not unbeatable by any means, but at his best, he is.
"Before we had high hopes for Alexander Zverev and Dominic Thiem and Medvedev, and we had high hopes for other top players that were younger, but it never really came to fruition where they would be in the class of Novak and Rafa. I think now, Carlos is in that class. He is right up there with them.
"I look forward, as a fan, to the matches where Carlos plays Rafa - I mean, how would you like to see them play on clay at the French Open, and Carlos plays Djokovic? I think those matches are going to be incredibly electric and we're going to see an even higher level of tennis. So if anything, he will even improve their games, maybe because he's such a big talent.
"He is a multi-surface guy. I see him doing great on grass. I mean, look at Nadal winning Wimbledon. Why can't Carlos? That's obvious to me, the fact that on any surface he can excel and he can win major titles."
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