Carlos Alcaraz is raring to go at Wimbledon. The Spanish sensation, who takes on Jeremy Chardy in the first round, is heading into the British spectacle off the back of claiming his first grass title at Queen’s last week after defeating Australia’s Alex de Minaur.
This propelled the young superstar back to the number one spot in the ATP rankings, replacing Novak Djokovic, who is seeking a fifth straight title at the All England Lawn Tennis Club that would take his total to a record-breaking eight Wimbledon crowns in the Open Era.
Alcaraz is making inroads on his game on grass, which is regarded as the hardest surface to dominate. He stated himself that the most difficult aspect of playing on grass is being able to move well, which is often the downfall of would-be Wimbledon champions.
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If there’s one thing that splits Alcaraz from the rest, it’s his determination to be as close to perfect on all the different surfaces, and that is why many are expecting great things from him. He has an affinity for clay like his idol and compatriot, Rafael Nadal, but his first Grand Slam triumph came on the hard court at the US Open last September.
But as it turns out, grass is where Alcaraz boasts his highest success percentage (81.8%) with nine wins and two defeats. He has played on the surface much less than the other two but the early signs suggest he could have a fruitful career on grass and that he has what it takes to become a Wimbledon champion.
There have already been many comparisons made between himself and Nadal, but what is really interesting is that both their maiden titles on grass came at Queen’s. Nadal defeated Djokovic to claim the title all the way back in 2008. What’s even more interesting is that he followed that up with the first of his two Wimbledon crowns as he defeated the legendary Roger Federer in a five-set thriller.
It would be fitting if Alcaraz could achieve what Nadal did 15 years ago, but with Djokovic out to make history, it will be very difficult for the 20-year-old to claim his first Grand Slam in SW19 this year. He still has a lot to learn in this arena but if he does not complete the double that Nadal accomplished back in 2008, it isn’t a concern.
After all, the King of Clay and the 14-time French Open champion could only muster two victories at Wimbledon. Alcaraz has the potential to win more than that as he is already showing his development on grass and it won’t be long before he masters his game on it.
If Alcaraz can prevail in south west London this summer, he will be halfway to winning each of the four Grand Slams on offer and this will only boost his chances of creating a legacy equal to that of Spain’s current tennis icon, Nadal.
