Carlos Alcaraz is up to four Grand Slams at the age of 21, and the debates about how many he could win in his career have already started.
Having won four Grand Slams at 21 is an incredible achievement, which has only been done by a few other players, such as Mats Wilander, Bjorn Borg, and Boris Becker, so far on the ATP Tour.
It’s great, but it doesn’t mean anything because it doesn’t guarantee that he’ll win eight by 24, fourteen by 28, or twenty by 32. That is unknown, but it’s also a good predictor of his ability.
Nobody would argue that Alcaraz won’t carry the sport forward in the coming ten years, but it also depends hugely on his health. The ability and level are there; he’s probably going to become an ever-better and more consistent player with age, but there are some question marks about his body.
Alcaraz has had many physical issues, and while he avoided major injuries, he’s still missed quite a few events due to injuries. Nick Kyrgios was part of the BBC commentary team for Wimbledon, and he spoke about the Spaniard’s chances of winning many Grand Slams.
“Alcaraz will carry our sport a long way. He will be the face of this sport alongside (Jannik) Sinner. The biggest enemy he’ll have is his body. How healthy can he stay? I think he’ll have upwards of 15 slams for sure. He could look to get to Novak’s record. It’s possible, but it depends on his fitness.”
Tim Henman, who reached four Wimbledon semi-finals and four other quarter-finals at the event, was also part of the BBC’s commentary team, and he too, was amazed by the Spaniard’s qualities.
“Alcaraz always had the answers. The first set wasn’t even close. When he needed it most in the tie-break, it was like Djokovic blinked almost. The way Alcaraz has played at Roland Garros and at Wimbledon, I don’t think he’s been at his best at times. The intensity and the focus he showed today, there was no let off.”
