Carlos Alcaraz is already forging a path that could see him one day recognised as the greatest tennis player of all time.
However, before he gets to that level, there are still plenty of superstars he must surpass.
Naturally, the three members of the Big Three stand out, but even female legends like Serena Williams stand in the way of him truly emerging as the undisputed GOAT.
It’s therefore ironic that, just over three years ago, Chris Evert actually compared Carlos Alcaraz to that aforementioned American, explaining why she saw similarities between the 22-year-old and the 23-time major champion.
When Carlos Alcaraz was compared to Serena Williams
Speaking to Eurosport back in 2023, she was effusive in her praise for Alcaraz, understandably.
That was, despite the Spaniard having only won one Grand Slam title at the time of her claims, although he would go on to add a second in the French Open that followed.
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Evert argued: “I think Carlos will improve their game because they’re going to have to play better than their best when they play him if they want to beat him. He’s not unbeatable by any means, but at his best, he is.
“I almost think it’s like when Serena Williams dominated the women’s game and she was playing at her best, there was no way that anybody could beat her. And if she was a little off, that’s when the players could beat her.
“I think the current players will have to play out of the box, so to speak, play out of their comfort zone, and they’re going to have to take more chances and more risks. And that’s why I say I think Carlos will improve their game because they’re going to have to play better than their best when they play him if they want to beat him.”
What’s even scarier is that Alcaraz has reached a new level of dominance since Evert’s claims.
How many Grand Slam titles did Serena Williams have at Carlos Alcaraz’s age?
Whilst people are keen to compare Alcaraz’s current trajectory with Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer’s at his age, Serena Williams is definitely another worth mentioning in this conversation.
After all, she was a true prodigy, emerging onto the scene aged just 14 in 1995, and winning her first Grand Slam title under four years later in 1999, aged 17.
Is Serena Williams the greatest tennis player of all time?
However, she would have to wait another three years before claiming another, actually winning three of the four majors in 2002, and another two in 2003.
This means that, at 22 years old, Serena boasted six Grand Slam titles, just one shy of Alcaraz’s current tally.
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