Former world No 1 Andy Murray has praised Carlos Alcaraz as he feels it is “special” what the 19-year-old Spaniard has been able to accomplish this year. Alcaraz has had a stunning 2022 season, having won a Grand Slam and two Masters titles.
Also, Alcaraz became the youngest No 1 in tennis history after winning the US Open. “I think what Alcaraz has done this year has been special. I think also, what’s happened in the last few years – and yes, there is always going to be a time when a generation passes or comes to the end of their career – but some of the results have been aided by Novak not being able to play in Australia this year.
He didn’t play at the US Open either and arguably is still the best player in the world. And I think that has also influenced some of the results a little bit,” Murray told Eurosport.
Murray praises Alcaraz
At the age of 19, Alcaraz is a Grand Slam champion and the top-ranked player in the world.
Murray, 35, is happy to see a young star like Alcaraz doing major things at a very young age and probably proving that the game will be in good hands once Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic join Roger Federer in retirement.
“Like I said, for me, Alcaraz has had an incredible year. I think [Stefanos] Tsitsipas has done extremely well, Felix [Auger-Aliassime] is potentially going to win three weeks in a row [in Florence, Antwerp and Basel] and is starting to make a big push as well.
This is – to me – what should be happening. This is normal now, what’s happening,” Murray added. Alcaraz, who became a Grand Slam champion at the US Open, is just starting. Alcaraz is fully committed to tennis and he is all about hard work and improving his game. Because of that, some feel Alcaraz may reach the 20-Grand Slam title mark one day.