Carlos Alcaraz will get even better and become the new Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal while dominating the sport with Jannik Sinner, according to Richard Gasquet.
Many fans were concerned that tennis would not be able to cope when Federer, Nadal, and Novak Djokovic leave the sport. Federer retired in 2022, while Nadal will retire at next month's Davis Cup Finals.
However, Alcaraz's emergence has helped to alleviate those fears. At 21, he is already a four-time Grand Slam champion, and some, like John McEnroe, consider him the most complete player ever seen at that age.
Alcaraz is sometimes compared to Federer due to his outrageous shot-making during matches. He can also use the slice, drop shots, and is willing to come to the net, making him exhilarating to watch.
But the Spaniard also possesses much of his idol Nadal's intensity and mental strength, although his fighting spirit cannot be compared to the 14-time French Open winner yet. Patrick McEnroe thinks Nadal could be the best competitor in sports history.
Every great talent also needs a worthy rival, and Alcaraz has found that with Jannik Sinner. He and the current world No. 1 have already played many epic contests together, including one of the best US Open matches ever in 2022.
Alcaraz outlasted Sinner in the China Open final at the start of the month, but the Italian responded by defeating the two-time Wimbledon champion at the Six Kings Slam, receiving the largest tennis paycheck ever of $6 million afterward.
Three-time Grand Slam semifinalist Gasquet is set to make his final appearance at the Paris Masters this year. The 38-year-old's long and excellent career will end at the 2025 French Open.
Interestingly, Gasquet played Alcaraz in his first ATP Final at the 2021 Croatia Open. The then-18-year-old Alcaraz comfortably defeated the Frenchman, and his rise since then has been swift.
Speaking to the media at the Paris Masters, Gasquet praised Alcaraz and is confident he will become the next Federer and Nadal over the coming years. The Spaniard's presence also makes Gasquet less worried about tennis's future.
"It has often been said, myself first, 25 years ago: ‘tennis will not be the same without Agassi, without Sampras, without Kuerten’. Then we had Federer, Nadal and Djokovic, an extraordinary era."
"Alcaraz is not nothing. When I see him play, when I see his attitude, his level of play, it’s crazy. I tell myself that this player will be a new Federer and Nadal."
Gasquet also praised Jannik Sinner and feels he and Alcaraz will raise the level of the sport for the next fifteen years as the two best players in the world.
"Sinner is also playing very, very well. He’s a huge player and others will come. They’re going to be the two best players in the world in the next fifteen years. They have an incredible level, they play very fast, they’re raising the level of tennis even higher."
"There are people in the stands and it’s going to continue like this for fifteen years for tennis. These two are going to raise the level of the sport."