Boris Becker on what Carlos Alcaraz has done which he considers the ‘most difficult feat’ in tennis

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Carlos Alcaraz has already put his name in the history books at just 22 years old.

Alcaraz won the Italian Open for the first time at his latest tournament, adding another accolade to his growing trophy cabinet.

As a result of his victories in both Rome and the Monte Carlo Masters, Alcaraz arrives at the French Open with confidence this year.

The Spaniard won his first French Open last year, and will now look to defend the Paris major for the first time.

Boris Becker says Carlos Alcaraz achieved most difficult feat in tennis last year

Not only did Alcaraz win the French Open last year, but he then went on to defend his Wimbledon title just weeks later.

Winning the French Open and Wimbledon back-to-back is sometimes referred to as completing the Channel Slam.

When discussing Alcaraz’s achievement with Laureus Sport, former world number one Boris Becker has claimed that the Channel Slam is the most difficult feat in tennis.

“Carlos Alcaraz last year you know, winning the Roland Garros and Wimbledon back to back, that’s probably the most difficult feat in tennis,” said Becker. “He has achieved that. You have to go back to back to the likes of [Roger] Federer, and [Rafael] Nadal had a one year, Bjorn Borg had it a couple of years.

“So the ultimate goal is to have a long clay court season and win Roland Garros. And then immediately the week after start the grass court season and win Wimbledon, and he’s done it. And he looked so much at ease doing it, so that’s remarkable.

“And also on the personal side, he’s a really, really sincere, great character. He plays with a smile on his face, and he draws crowds, you know, into the thousands onto the stadium courts or on television.”

ATP Players to complete the Channel Slam in the Open Era

The difficulty of completing the Channel Slam is evident, with only six men achieving it since the turn of the Open Era.

Becker is not one of those, with the French Open the only major title that eluded his decorated career.

Last year, Alcaraz joined ‘the big three’ of Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, with the latter achieving it twice.

Nadal is one of two men to have achieved it more than once, alongside Bjorn Borg who did it in three consecutive years.

Alcaraz could join both Borg and Nadal this year, as he begins his bid for a second French Open title.

The world number two will play his first round match against Italian Giulio Zeppieri on Monday May 26.