‘More grand slams’: Carlos Alcaraz already has sights set on 2023 glory after US Open triumph
Carlos Alcaraz, left, with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal during the US Open final. Reuters
Carlo Alcaraz was once ranked as high as No. 23 among active tennis players in the world. He is now a world No. 11.
But the former top-20-ranked Rafael Nadal has been one of his biggest fans, having described him as an excellent clay court player and a great man.
Nadal had previously expressed his appreciation of Alcaraz’s talent of playing on clay.
“I hope he gets a lot more matches on that surface,” Nadal told a Spanish newspaper, the ABC.
“But you’re not talking about somebody who’s 22 or 23, if you’re talking about someone who’s 33, 34, 35? I can’t wait until the Olympics. If I can make it in the Olympics, it would be very great. I would love it if he can make it to the Olympic Games, because I think he has a lot to offer.”
Alcaraz, who is also a two-time Olympic gold medalist, has been a solid part of the U.S. Davis Cup team on which he has made his name.
He also played in the Davis Champions final in 2016, a year when he was ranked No. 25 in the world but was chosen as the Davis Cup No. 2 to replace injured American No. 1 John Isner.
Alcaraz made the second round in the U.S. Open that year but had to retire in the second round due to a knee injury.
He is currently ranked No. 11 in the world.
“He’s an excellent champion. I think he’s the fourth best player in the world,” U.S. Davis Cup captain Jim Courier told ESPN.com after Alcaraz beat former world No. 1 Novak Djok
