WTA player explains why she did not like Carlos Alcaraz before the French Open took place this year

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Carlos Alcaraz appears to have changed how people perceive him after winning the French Open earlier this year.

Alcaraz beat Jannik Sinner to win the French Open, saving three match points in the final to defend his title.

This was the longest French Open final in history at five hours and 29 minutes, with Alcaraz and Sinner’s match being labelled one of the best ever.

Alcaraz is one of the most popular players on tour, but a WTA player has suggested it took this final to make her like the Spaniard.

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova explains why her opinion changed on Carlos Alcaraz at the French Open

The French Open final between Alcaraz and Sinner continues to be spoken about, including by 2021 finalist Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.

Pavlyuchenkova, who was involved in an electronic line calling drama at Wimbledon earlier this year, was speaking on the Table Hockey podcast and was asked which match she recommended people to watch to introduce themselves to tennis.

The former world number 11 responded by suggesting the match between Alcaraz and Sinner, before admitting that she actually was not so keen on the Spaniard before this.

Pavlyuchenkova also went on to compare Alcaraz and Sinner to Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, respectively.

“I think Alcaraz and Sinner at Roland Garros for I think five hours or more…And I’m even surprised that I watched it without stopping, usually I can’t watch a five set match,” said Pavlyuchenkova. “I’ve never watched them live before…But yeah that match, because Sinner had match points in the third set, he won two sets.

“I still thought Alcaraz would win, I don’t know why. And he does in five there, and in a crazy way at 7-6 in the fifth on a tie-breaker. Now that’s quite a match.

“After that I really took a liking to Alcaraz…because somehow, well I don’t really know, I didn’t really like his manner, because it seemed to me that he had a bit of a pretence, he smiles all the time. I think, ‘How is that possible?’. Well, I compare myself, I have just drama there all the time when I play. I think, ‘How is it possible?’, he smiles at his team all the time it’s too much.

“And after the match, this is how I compare them. Sinner is Federer and Alcaraz is Rafa. That is, it’s just amazing that a replacement actually happened for Federer and Nadal, because it seemed like they were cooler. Well of course they are much cooler, but these young guys have now decently replaced them.”

How does Carlos Alcaraz’s career compare to Rafael Nadal at the same age?

Due to both being Spanish and having success from such a young age, it is unsurprising that Alcaraz and Nadal get compared to one another.

Particularly with Nadal now being retired from tennis, there is a desire for a new crop of players to replace the likes of him and Federer.

Alcaraz is currently 22 years and six months, and has already been world number one, as Nadal also had at this age.

He has also won six Grand Slam titles, which is actually one more than Nadal had won at this same age.

However, Nadal leads Alcaraz in terms of both total number of titles, Masters 1000 tournament wins and also his Olympic success.

There are just two more tournaments left this year for Alcaraz, who suffered a shock defeat to Cameron Norrie at the Paris Masters.

Despite this setback, Alcaraz is clearly creating a path of success for himself and is already being compared to some of the greats of the game.