By Clay Witt
The future of men’s tennis may have finally arrived. After years of anticipation, matches and majors being played and won by the “Big 3" of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic, a new superstar in tennis has supplanted himself atop the world rankings. Carlos Alcaraz.
Alcaraz is the youngest No. 1 men’s tennis player in the world at just 19 years of age, and the youngest Major winner since his fellow countryman Nadal won the French Open back in 2005.
Alcaraz showed maturity beyond his years throughout the U.S Open and superior skill to win the title against now No. 2 player in the world Casper Ruud 6–4, 2–6, 7–6 (1), 6–3.
“It’s something I worked really, really hard [for]. It’s tough to talk right now. A lot of emotions,’’ said Alcaraz in the post-match trophy ceremony. “You have to give everything on court. You have to give everything you have inside. I worked really, really hard to earn it.”
Leading up to the final Alcaraz had to overcome former U.S. Open champion Marin Cilic, a match that ended at 2:23 am and had Alcaraz save match point.
A similar match against rising star Yannik Sinner in the quarterfinal finished at 2:50 am that lasted 5-hour and 15-minutes. The semifinal was not much different either as the young American Frances Tiafoe battled for 5 sets before Alcaraz eventually pulled through.
Alcaraz’s ruthlessness combined with composure and ability to pull off each shot is what makes him hard to beat.
A signature power forehand will be followed by an impossible-to-get drop shot, all while he is moving around the court at a pace that may have never been seen in tennis before.
“He might be the quickest mover I have ever seen on a tennis court,” John McEnroe said.
Alcaraz is poised to stay at the top of the rankings for the majority of his career. The rest of the “new-gen” players simply aren’t as good as him or don’t have the mental toughness he has.
The Big-3 are aging and will eventually retire in the next few years, but even before then, Alcaraz beat Nadal and Djokovic, then Alexander Zverev to win in Madrid earlier this year.
Alcaraz has a combination of style and play from all the Big 3, and has been touted as the next great even before this past weekend, and rise to world No. 1.
The 1 phenom is just getting started and barring injury, could be around for the next 20 years. Winning major after major.
If anyone is ever going to compete with the legacy and major titles of the Big 3, it is Carlos Alcaraz.
