Former Serena Williams coach says Carlos Alcaraz had ‘a lob from outer space’
Serena Williams’ former coach Rick March says Carlos Alcaraz is unlike anyone we’ve ever seen in tennis.
Alcaraz has just turned 20 this year, but he has already won the U.S. Open and Wimbledon titles. What’s most impressive about the latter is that he had to beat Novak Djokovic on Center Court – a nearly impossible goal for others in recent years.
Djokovic did defeat Alcaraz in the ATP Finals semi-finals, and it was the Serb, not the Spaniard, who topped the year-end world rankings.
However, March said everyone should buckle up and enjoy an incredible ride as they watch Alcaraz’s career progress.
“Alcaraz…we’ve never seen anything like this,” March said on the Racing Point Canada podcast. “We’ve never seen it.
“I tell everyone that he is a combination of Federer, Nadal, Djokovic and Agassi. His makeup speed is unparalleled. Once he hits other gears, his turbo speed is amazing.
Read next: Carlos Alcaraz admits he’s not at Novak Djokovic’s ‘level’
“He had a lob that came from outer space. He missed more lobs as a kid than anyone who ever played tennis because he tried more — and whoever the coach was as a kid was not going to stop him from doing that.
“I think it’s unreal that he’s going to win so many majors. “In my opinion, I feel like he’s the leader in the clubhouse by far. “
Carlos Alcaraz compared to the greats
Of course, March isn’t the first to compare Carlos Alcaraz to the tennis great. He has been compared to Rafael Nadal since his teenage years simply because of his nationality.
However, there is a growing realization in the tennis world that Alcaraz is truly special, as he possesses elite athleticism and a variety of strokes that even the most experienced players cannot achieve.
Novak Djokovic himself had high praise for Alcaraz after the Wimbledon final.
“I think what people have been saying about his game over the last 12 months or so is that there are elements of Roger, Rafa and myself. I agree with that. I think he’s basically those three worlds. The best of them all,” Djokovic said.
“For a 20-year-old, he has such mental toughness and real maturity. It’s quite impressive. He has the competitive mentality, the fighting spirit and the incredible defense of a Spanish bull that he has done over the years. We see this with Rafa.
“I think he has some nice backhand slides, and he has some similarities with my backhand. Yeah, two-handed backhand, defense, being able to adapt. I think that’s been my personal strength over the years. He has that too.
“To be honest, I have never played against a player like him. Both Roger and Rafa have their own strengths and weaknesses. Carlos is a very complete player. I think the amazing ability to adapt is the longevity and the ability to play in all areas The key to a successful career.”
In many ways, Djokovic’s continued performance and level on the ATP Tour could help Alcaraz.
Not only will he have to fight for a special level to compete with him, but having Djokovic around will temporarily lower expectations, allowing Alcaraz to develop without extra pressure.
Whatever happens, you won’t find many people lining up to question March’s assessment of Alcaraz, such is the impression he’s made on tennis.
Read next: Coach claims Carlos Alcaraz ‘had to start learning tennis from January to November’
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