Carlos Alcaraz has a bright future ahead, says Marc Rosset.
When Pete Sampras clinched his 14th Grand Slam title, few thought anyone would match or surpass that feat anytime soon. Many believed it was an unbreakable record in the ATP Tour.
Fast forward to 2024, and three players have exceeded that number. Novak Djokovic almost doubled Sampras’ count, achieving heights no one imagined. They could have won 30 each if they hadn’t played at the same time, but they settled for 20, 22, and 24 titles instead.
Former player Rosset is now suggesting Alcaraz might reach that elusive number of 30 Grand Slams. It’s a bold statement but not entirely without merit. The young Spaniard turned 21 in May and already boasts four Grand Slam titles after dominating this year’s Wimbledon.
| Name | Age | Points | Stats 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇪🇸 Carlos Alcaraz | 21 | 68,791 | 25 - 5 |
If he wins the US Open this year, he’ll be up to five Grand Slams —a sixth of the way there. It sounds crazy until you remember how talented he is.
Rosset’s Perspective:
Rosset believes Alcaraz’s dominance is due to a significant gap between him and other players on the Tour. The only one close to his level is Jannik Sinner, whom Alcaraz recently defeated in Paris.
The rest of the competitors lag far behind them. At his best, Alcaraz seems unbeatable for many players out there—a sentiment Rosset shared during an interview with L’Equipe.
“For him [Alcaraz] to reach 30 Grand Slams,” Rosset said, “that would mean almost three titles per season for nine to ten years, without injury and without new big rivals emerging.”
Fans might wonder if anyone can challenge him consistently in the future.
Other legends share Rosset’s optimism about Alcaraz’s potential. Mats Wilander even called him “the most exciting tennis player who has ever lived.” And he’s just getting started at age 21!
The question remains: How much better can he get? If he’s already miles ahead of others now, what does that mean for future competitions?
“Alcaraz is today the only one who really does lots of different things,” said Rosset. He added that both Alcaraz and Sinner might have an open road ahead unless other players quickly adapt their games.
“If others don’t ask themselves what to improve soon,” warned Rosset, “they shouldn’t complain later about being unlucky.”
While Holger Rune and Sinner show promise outside these two talents, few seem capable of truly challenging Alcaraz right now.
What do you think? Can anyone catch up with Carlos?
