Carlos Alcaraz is a generational talent, and further solidified that popular notion with another impressive title on Sunday.
Overcoming his rival Jannik Sinner in the Italian Open final, the 22-year-old has earned mass praise for the manner in which he halted the world number one.
Regardless of how long he had been out of the game, the way in which he was dispatched, especially in the second set, merits adulation.
Well, one particularly prominent name in the tennis coaching scene has emerged to offer his verdict on the mercurial Spaniard, even going as far as to suggest that one area of his game is the best that the sport has ever seen.
Rick Macci thinks Carlos Alcaraz stands out from the rest in key area
The man in question is Rick Macci, who is best known for coaching both Serena and Venus Williams as youngsters.
He played a part in the development of two of the greatest players in WTA history, and thus has a voice worth listening to when he talks about tennis.
Not only that, but his proximity to two legends should help with his potential identification of future ones.
The fact that he sees Alcaraz as a leader in one particular skill should speak volumes about how far he thinks the four-time Grand Slam champion to go.
He took to X to write: ‘It is good tactical advice to change the channel and give the Flamethrower [Sinner] high loopers and change the Pace so they bounce up in his Face. But Alcaraz has the best make up Speed the game has seen so he can live another Day especially on the Clay.’
Carlos Alcaraz is already a record breaker
It is not an unpopular opinion to recognise Alcaraz as a legend already, given his Grand Slam total has already usurped that of Andy Murray, Arthur Ashe and Gustavo Kuerten.
And, in achieving these feats at such a young age, he has already shattered numerous records and shows no signs of slowing down.
One of the greatest feats he has achieved came last year at the French Open, as in lifting the title he became the youngest ever player to have won a Grand Slam on all three surfaces. Not even Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal had achieved what he had at his age.
Then winning Wimbledon, he won a fourth slam earlier than any of this legendary trio too, suggesting he is on track to match their greatness.
The tennis world will continue to watch with keen interest to see if he can achieve what was previously thought impossible.
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