Paul Annacone, the former coach of Roger Federer, has praised Carlos Alcaraz’s wide range of skills and even mentioned the Spaniard’s youth.
Alcaraz has already made a name for himself as a potential sports superstar at the age of 20. At the US Open in 2022, the Spaniard defeated Casper Ruud in the final match to win his first Grand Slam title. This season, he carried on that accomplishment by defeating Novak Djokovic in a thrilling five-set final match to capture his second major title at Wimbledon.
During a recent interview, Annacone was certain that Alcaraz could win many grand slam titles, but he hesitated to provide an exact figure. He expressed his thoughts about Alcaraz and said: “I think about Alcaraz that if he could stay healthy, he should be a multiple, multiple Grand Slam winner. Is he going to get 20? I have no idea. I don’t even like to guess at stuff like that. But if he stays healthy with his athletic skill set, and from what I’ve seen, look, we don’t, I don’t think we’ve mentioned enough what he’s gone through with Juan Carlos Ferrero. Juan Carlos Ferrero has taught him since he was a little kid. And he’s the most complete young player I’ve ever seen in my life.”
The 20-year-old was regarded as the most complete young player Annacone had ever seen. The American gave Alcaraz an edge because of his diverse and adaptive playing style, even though he acknowledged Rafael Nadal’s greater accomplishments at a comparable age.
He added: “That doesn’t mean Rafael Nadal didn’t have more results at his age, but I’ve never seen anyone at his age that can defend, that can volley, that can stay back and play lateral tennis, that can use drop shots. That can, you know, use spins, speeds, and all the different areas of it. I’ve never seen it before in someone that age. Seeing him stabilize with that many skills at this age is an awesome sight. I think there’s going to be 2 or 3 others who’ll be there to push him. But right now, I just think he’s a little bit better than everyone else other than Novak.”
Paul Annacone says Carlos Alcaraz is the most complete young player he’s ever seen:
"I think Alcaraz, if he could stay healthy, should be a multiple, multiple Grand Slam winner. Is he going to get 20? I have no idea. I don't even like to guess at stuff like that, but if he stays… pic.twitter.com/qAkzgiHdbC
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) December 24, 2023
Carlos Alcaraz in 2023
WLWLLWLWWW Ranked world no.2, Alcaraz played his last match on the 18th of November when he lost to world no.1 Novak Djokovic 6-3 6-2 in the semifinal in the Nitto ATP Finals (draw).
This year the Spaniard has managed to achieve a compiled 65-12 record. Carlos conquered 6 titles in 2023 in Buenos Aires, Indian Wells, Barcelona, Madrid, London and Wimbledon. Alcaraz was the finalist in Rio de Janeiro and Cincinnati.
Alcaraz has scheduled to play next at the Australian Open (Australian Open). He will start from the main draw that will commence on the 14th of January.
