1987 Wimbledon champion Pat Cash has stunningly claimed that Carlos Alcaraz's level is the best he has ever witnessed on grass.
Alcaraz grew up playing on clay and was quickly tipped for French Open success when he first came onto the ATP Tour. The first title of his career was on the dirt at the Croatia Open in Umag. He beat Richard Gasquet in the final, who announced when he will retire.
However, the Spaniard quickly adapted to the other two surfaces. His first Grand Slam title came at the 2022 US Open, a run that included an amazing five-set quarterfinal against the world No. 1 Jannik Sinner.
Alcaraz's lack of experience on grass meant it seemed likely he would struggle on that surface the most. Novak Djokovic was considered an overwhelming favorite for the title ahead of Wimbledon in 2023.
The 21-year-old could not have done a better job of proving his doubters wrong. Last year, he triumphed in one of the best Wimbledon finals ever against Djokovic, with the final score being 1-6, 7-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-4.
That was followed by an even more comprehensive win against the Serbian at this year's Wimbledon. Alcaraz dismantled Djokovic 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 in one of the most one-sided Grand Slam finals in recent memory.
The Spaniard is currently in Saudi Arabia playing at the Six Kings Slam exhibition event. He will renew his rivalry against Jannik Sinner in Saturday's final, while Djokovic is set to play Nadal for possibly the last time on the same day.
It is several months until Alcaraz competes on grass again, with tournaments on hard and clay courts to come before grass events take place again, but Cash will be particularly excited to watch the two-time Wimbledon champion next year.
Speaking on Sky Sports Tennis, Pat Cash argued that Alcaraz's peak level is the best he has ever seen on grass, placing him ahead of eight-time Wimbledon champion Roger Federer and seven-time winner at SW19 Djokovic.
"He hasn’t got a weakness. I almost think he is one of the best … the best player I have ever seen on grass at his best. Ever seen and I am talking about ever seen. “Because he is a young guy, he has taken the best of Rafa, the best of Federer and he has been able to adapt that."
"Without these great players, he wouldn’t have had that, and he admits that. He said without Rafa ‘I wouldn’t be where I am’, but he has just taken the best of everything and somehow at the age of 21 has put it all together. I have never seen anything like that."
Many older fans, in particular, might disagree with Cash. Federer's peak level when he won five Wimbledon titles in a row from 2003 to 2007, and Nadal needing to win one of the greatest tennis matches ever played in the 2008 final to stop that streak, is a strong argument for Federer's peak level being higher.
Regardless, Alcaraz's performances on grass at just 21 have been incredible, and it will be a joy to continue watching him on the surface.
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