Andy Roddick says what Carlos Alcaraz does on grass which is just like Roger Federer and different to Rafael Nadal

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Carlos Alcaraz continues to impress on the grass as he prepares to defend his Wimbledon title.

Just nine days after Alcaraz beat Jannik Sinner in the French Open final, he returned to action, kicking off his grass-court campaign.

Immediately finding his footing on grass, Alcaraz won the Queen’s Club Championships, defeating Jiri Lehecka in the final 7-5, 6-7, 6-2.

The win strengthened Alcaraz’s position as the favorite to win Wimbledon next month, as he did in 2023 and 2024.

Reacting to the Spaniard’s win at Queen’s, Andy Roddick highlighted how Alcaraz is similar to Roger Federer and different from Rafael Nadal on grass.

Andy Roddick says Carlos Alcaraz is ‘Roger Federer-esque’ on grass courts

During the latest episode of Served with Andy Roddick, the former world number one explained how impressed he is with the Spaniard on grass.

“I think the most impressive thing about it and even Rafa [Nadal] had to work at it and be a little bit more intentional about this than Carlos [Alcaraz] does, going from clay to grass,” said Roddick.

“I’m not saying he’s better than Rafa. I am just saying that on clay you have to take different angles to the ball, you usually have to back track and then go in. But the lines he takes to the ball are never wrong.

“If he wants to cut one off, it’s like Roger [Federer]-esque. Roger, on his forehand, never took a bad angle or a bad line to the ball in stride. He is able to read the pacing, adjust his footwork, and then either transition off the forehand in or not.

“He reads all of that in half a second. He is so good at his angles to the ball. You never really see that awkward grass court out of position that you see with the rest of us.”

Roddick went on to suggest Alcaraz’s greatest rival, Sinner, is struggling with that very issue.

“Even [Jannik] Sinner, you feel, is finding that – when to take the line and when to take it on and when to go back. That is a normal process for anyone,” he said.

“I am so impressed with the ‘I go on vacation, I come back and then by the second match I am already taking the correct line and choosing the right shot on grass every time’.”

Alcaraz spent a few days in Ibiza with friends after Roland Garros before returning to win the title at Queen’s.

Comparing Carlos Alcaraz, Roger Federer, and Rafael Nadal’s grass-court achievements

Roddick compared Alcaraz’s grass-court game to that of Federer and Nadal’s, but which of the trio has won the most on the surface?

Roger Federer’s grass-court achievements

• Grass titles – 19 (Halle Open x 10), (Wimbledon x 8), (Stuttgart Open x 1)
• Top ten wins – 21
• Win/Loss record – 192-29 (87%)

Carlos Alcaraz’s grass-court achievements

• Grass titles – 4 (Wimbledon x 2), (Queen’s x 2)
• Top ten wins – 5
• Win/Loss record – 29-3 (91%)

Rafael Nadal’s grass-court achievements

• Grass titles – 4 (Wimbledon x 2), (Queen’s x 1), (Stuttgart Open x 1)
• Top ten wins – 9
• Win/Loss record – 76-20 (79%)

There’s a strong case to suggest Alcaraz has already surpassed Nadal on the grass, matching his tally of Wimbledon titles with a far better win %.

Remarkably, Alcaraz has won more titles on the grass than he has lost matches, as he continues to dominate on a surface many once suggested he could struggle on.

He does, however, have a long way to go if he wants to catch Federer, who amassed 19 titles on grass during his career.

Winning eight titles at Wimbledon (a record), Federer has left Alcaraz with a steep mountain to climb.

Only time will tell if Alcaraz can reach the heights of Federer on grass, but it will certainly be something to look out for.

Alcaraz will begin his quest for a third consecutive Wimbledon title when the 2025 tournament begins on Monday, June 30.