'What He Touches Turns To Gold': Musetti Compares Alcaraz To King Midas
ATP
Carlos Alcaraz has been referred to by many names since becoming a two-time Grand Slam champion, but nothing quite compares to what Lorenzo Musetti called him in a recent interview.
The 20-year-old has enjoyed a seismic rise into the summit of men's tennis, beating seven-time tournament champion Novak Djokovic in five sets at this year's Wimbledon. It was a victory that earned Alcaraz outpouring praise from all corners of the world.
Fellow ATP pros weighed in on the conversation. Djokovic, who witnessed Alcaraz's talent firsthand in the Wimbledon final, called him the best of all three worlds in reference to Alcaraz portraying all the qualities of the Big 3. Nick Kyrgios called him a freak while watching last month's showpiece final.
Rick Macci, the former coach of Serena Williams, called him a complete player. And amongst many plaudits by players and fans, it is, however, Lorenzo Musetti's metaphorical comparison of Alcaraz that tops the lot. The Italian one-hander likened Alcaraz to King Midas, who was a famous king in Phrygia, and by Greek mythology, had the ability to turn everything he touched into gold.
"In one year he has made incredible progress in terms of tennis, but also physically and in his awareness of his own means. Today Alcaraz is the point of reference, the player to beat. He is the King Midas of tennis: what he touches becomes gold. He is both a friend and a source of inspiration, beating him is a source of pride but also a motivation in more to do it again."
Both Musetti and Alcaraz will get their North American hard-court summer swing underway next week when they play at the 2023 Canadian Open. The Italian will look to win his first match on hard courts this season outside the United Cup, while Alcaraz is the odds-on favorite to lift his third Masters of the year.
