Carlos Alcaraz has six Grand Slam titles, and he’s only 22 years old.
No wonder Novak Djokovic keeps trying to win a 25 th Grand Slam title at 38 years old. If Alcaraz sticks around another 16 years, he likely will surpass the Grand Slam totals of Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal, and yes, even Djokovic in that order.
Alcaraz is a much better athlete than any of those. All he has to do is stay healthy. And that’s the trick. But right now Alcaraz is the magician. He has an answer for everything in men’s tennis. Sure, he will lose a few more Grand Slam titles to Jannik Sinner, but Alcaraz has the body and athletic ability to be around for a long time.
A FINAL FILLED WITH ARTISTRY
Sunday’s U.S. Open final was filled with artistry, and Alcaraz was the chief magician. Sinner threw the book at the amazing Spaniard, but it wasn’t enough to prevent Alcaraz from posting a 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 win in the men’s final.
Nadal, a Spanish master himself in his day, must have been totally impressed by what Alcaraz
demonstrated to the fans at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Alcaraz was ready from the start as he rushed to a 6-2 first-set win. Sinner came back to deadlock the match, but then Alcaraz took total control with a 6-1 third set that demonstrated the big serves and acrobatic shot-making of both players.
ALCARAZ HAS THE TALENT TO CHALLENGE HISTORY
Alcaraz stayed around for the fourth set and took charge of the afternoon fun with a service break in the fifth game. He never let up and never gave Sinner a chance to take charge after that.
Alcaraz not only earned a $5M check with the victory and a world’s No. 1 ranking, but became the
youngest male tennis player to win six Grand Slam titles at 22 years and four months.
Talk about talent, Alcaraz now has won two GS titles on clay (French Open), two GS titles on Grass (Wimbledon) and two GS titles on hard courts (U.S. Open). Rod Laver must been in awe, even if he was the most successful player in tennis history by completing a pair of calendar Grand Slams, one in the open era of tennis.
Maybe Carlos Alcaraz will follow that lead one day by achieving a calendar Grand Slam. Don’t tell Jannik Sinner. He might get in the way a few times.
James Beck was the 2003 winner of the USTA National Media Award for print media. A 1995 MBA
graduate of The Citadel, he can be reached at Jamesbecktennis@gmail.com.
