Carlos Alcaraz is already one of the best tennis players in the world, and seems destined to enjoy a career laden with silverware.
However, what makes him so special, and helps him stand out not just from his contemporary peers but also many who came before him, is his proficiency across multiple surfaces.
Already he has a Grand Slam title on clay, grass and hard courts, but his favourite has never really been a secret.
He has even suggested, earlier this week, that playing on grass even changes his personality, such is the nature of his affiliation with the surface.
Carlos Alcaraz praises the grass despite Jack Draper loss
Ahead of his match with Jack Draper, which he would lose in sensational fashion, Alcaraz took time to sit down with Johanna Konta for Tennis Channel to discuss everything grass court.
After all, with Queen’s well underway, and Wimbledon just around the corner, it is the hot topic at the moment despite the Olympics also taking place this summer.
Likely that change back to clay will upset the bodies of many tennis players, and of those who could suffer most, the 21-year-old might sit atop that list purely due to how much he seems to be enjoying playing on the tour’s current surface.
He would even claim: ‘I think I don’t complain as much as on other surfaces. I understand very well what happens on the grass, what happens in the matches. My style suits very well, very aggressively, go to the net, of course I am going to lose a lot of points playing that style, but I love it.’
This was before his loss to Draper, in which the Great British player played the game of his life to reach the Queen’s quarter-finals.
Will Carlos Alcaraz win Wimbledon again?
Despite yesterday’s loss to Draper, in which Carlos Alcaraz blamed Queen’s new serving rules, he still remains one of the ATP’s most proficient grass-court specialists.
And whilst others might boast greater form on the surface, with the Briton who beat him one such example alongside stars like Sebastian Korda and Matteo Berrettini, the Spaniard still sits alone at the top in terms of actual pedigree.
After all, having secured his third Grand Slam title earlier this month, he became the youngest man to have won a major title on all three surfaces.
His all-around proficiency is exceptional, and thus legendary things are expected of him.
Already he is one of the most decorated active players on the tour, and as many hope to watch him go deep in next month’s Wimbledon.
As the reigning champion, he will have a tough mental battle defending his title, but also players like Jannik Sinner and Daniil Medvedev will be hoping to dethrone him too.
However, none have showcased the adaptability and quality on grass specifically that Alcaraz already has done.
Unless he faces a real off day like he did yesterday against Draper, he remains heavy favourite to claim a second Wimbledon title.
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