Carlos Alcaraz has just earned the ultimate praise from Andy Roddick, speaking on the latest iteration of his podcast.
The Spaniard, who won his first title since his 2023 Wimbledon success at Indian Wells last month, had endured something of a lull for what has been a stunning short career thus far.
However, claiming such elite silverware led many to believe that he is back, ready to challenge the unstoppable Jannik Sinner.
And now, Roddick has detailed how he might alter his current style of play to do just that and cement himself as a tennis legend one day.
Andy Roddick full of praise for Carlos Alcaraz
Speaking on the Served with Andy Roddick podcast, the former world number one of whom the podcast is named after, was full of praise for one man.
In fact, he would even go as far as to suggest that Alcaraz, who already has two Grand Slams to his name, marks a patented blend of three of the greatest men’s tennis players of all time.
Such adulation is unprecedented, and Roddick noted: ‘I think in our generation it was like the players wanted to watch Roger because he could do things racquet skill-wise. And Rafa was like this blunt force trauma of physicality and spin. And Novak is like a wrestler who gets you into holds that you can’t get out of. Whereas, Roger kind of had this grace and he would come out with shots that looked like he was playing video games.
‘And now Alcaraz is almost like a combination of all three. He’s still finding his way. I think the best version of himself will be when he gets a little more Novak into his game, where he makes things a little more boring and isn’t spectacular all the time.
‘When I was with Andre Agassi in Vegas, that’s kind of what he was saying is that he is so spectacular that the next point of success is becoming maybe a little bit more boring on court and kind of getting people and locking them down and not throwing as many uppercuts.’
His presence in Vegas, for the Netflix Slam, also allowed Roddick to offer his insight on the landmark event.
Carlos Alcaraz hoping to reach the levels of the Big Three
By the age of 21, Novak Djokovic had won just one Grand Slam title.
Similarly, Roger Federer only won his first Grand Slam title at the age of 21.
Rafael Nadal was in a league of his own as a teenager, but Alcaraz has already eclipsed two of what the ‘big three’ had accomplished at his age.
He is a truly generational talent, and his quality as both a proficient title-winner and a majestic showman makes him a true fan favourite already.
Should he recapture his form and find some consistency, there is every chance that Alcaraz could one day end his career alongside this legendary trio.
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