Google News Mats Wilander: Alcaraz could turn out to be the single most important tennis player
by SEAD DEDOVIC | VIEW 305
Carlos Alcaraz is currently the biggest talent of the tennis scene and many predict a great career for him. A large number of experts expect the young Spaniard to break many records. Mats Wilander believes that Alcaraz can have a bigger career than the "big stars" of tennis.
"For me to see Alcaraz winning the Us Open was the most probably most exciting tournament that I've seen in the 20+ years that I've worked in TV or in media as an analyst.
I have said that I think if Alcaraz can keep winning - and I've even told [Alcaraz's coach] Juan Carlos Ferrero this in private - he could turn out to be the single most important tennis player that we have ever had in our sport.
People are going to say, what do you mean? Isn't Roger Federer...? Isn't Rafael Nadal...? Yes, they are absolutely, incredibly important. But here you have a guy who is trying so hard, he is so fast, he is playing with so many different shots, and he's serving and volleying at 15-30.
He's 19 years old! He's hitting drop shots at 15-30, he's 19 years old! Then he dives, and at the end of it, he's smiling and he's laughing."- Wilander said for eurosport.com.
Wilander on Alcaraz
Wilander believes that Alcaraz knows how to create an atmosphere around him.
His relaxation while playing, his charisma and all other factors make him unique. "So if I'm a parent, I'm going to look at Alcaraz, and I'm going to say, 'Whoa, whoa, that's the No. 1 player in the world? And he's having that much fun? You kids, you are all going to play this sport because that seems to be a life-changing situation.'
"I'm not saying he's going to win 10-15 majors, but I really hope that he keeps winning because that's exactly the role model that we need to spread the message of how fun tennis can be and how it is supposed to be played.
"It's not taking anything away from the 'Big Three', obviously, because they took it to the next level.
But in terms of the happiness... It's amazing the atmosphere that he creates on the court with the people that are watching him, including all of us."