ATP legend reveals if Carlos Alcaraz can reach the Big 3

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Carlos Alcaraz has started preparing for next season, which will start directly at the Australian Open as he has no intention of participating in some previous tournaments. The world No. 3 – who played a couple of exhibition matches in the United States in early December – is practicing hard together with his coach Juan Carlos Ferrero and wants to play his best tennis from the beginning of 2025.

The 21-year-old from Murcia has already won Wimbledon twice, the US Open and the French Open, while he has not yet shown his best version at Melbourne Park. The young Spanish champion is working on his weaknesses together with his team and is aware that he needs to improve in some aspects if he wants to return to the top of the ATP rankings.

Carlos Alcaraz, ATP Finals 2024© Stream screenshot

His great rival Jannik Sinner has raised the bar in 2024, with a season on the verge of perfection in which he suffered only six defeats. The 4-time Grand Slam champion has shown several times that he can defeat the Italian ace in their matches, but he does not have the same consistency as him during the year.

For this reason, Carlitos is number 3 in the world and is almost 5000 points from the first position. Like other top players, Alcaraz will also play some exhibition matches at Melbourne Park in the week leading up to the Happy Slam.

Carlitos' ambitions are well known

Carlos' ambitions are known to all. The Spaniard has never hidden that he wants to pick up the legacy of the Big 3 and become one of the best players ever. The champion from Murcia has already achieved extraordinary results for his age, but he must not stop growing if he wants to continue to shine in the coming years.

On the latest edition of the ‘TIE Global Summit’, ATP legend Andre Agassi praised Alcaraz’s amazing skills: “I’m not a genius and I don’t have a crystal ball. What I can tell you is Alcaraz defends like Novak, has power and spin like, Nadal, and has hands and finesse like Federer.

But just because he has the best of all three doesn’t mean he can do what they did because there are so many other parts to the game. Decision-making, injuries, luck… there are so many things.”

Carlos Alcaraz, Laver Cup 2024© Stream screenshot

The current world number 3 is much loved by fans for his attitude and his ability to play spectacular shots in every area of the court. The Spaniard has truly immense talent and can mark an era together with Sinner, but he cannot afford to let his guard down even for a second.

Juan Carlos Ferrero is helping him eliminate the ups and downs during the season, taking as an example the Big 3, who have always been consistent during their dominance. 2025 will tell us if Carlitos has grown in this respect and if he is really ready to become one of the best ever.

Alcaraz is a great entertainer

Recently, the former world No.1 electrified the crowd in two exhibition matches in the United States. Alcaraz faced Ben Shelton at Madison Square Garden in New York and Frances Tiafoe in Charlotte, bringing smiles to everyone and proving to be a great entertainer.

On the latest edition of his well-known podcast, former World No.1 Andy Roddick reflected on the Spaniard’s attitude on court: "I think people have rewritten the book like Carlos Alcaraz was pitch perfect with every person. And this is big for Charlotte, but this is not a prioritized event for him, right? This is something that he's doing obviously because he is getting paid like there's no doubt about it, but he doesn't act like someone who's there to get paid. He acts like someone who is trying to add value. And if he is getting paid, he's the safest offer in tennis.

Roddick also added: "One because of like in an exhibition where he's throwing the full box of tools out there. I'm watching first row and I'm like the shots he's hitting. I know what he's doing. I can see the ragged speed. I'm like, holy sh** like the speed he can create at the last minute being this far from him.

I've seen him at the open obviously, but you're up in the suites and I mean, it's just next level talent and then he does it all with a sneaky smile on his face, in on all the jokes, knows when to bring people in. I was like, it's the most thirstless stardom I think I've ever seen.”

The 4-time Grand Slam champion was supposed to start his preparation by practicing with Jack Draper, but the latter suffered an injury.

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