"Alcaraz can beat Djokovic and win a slam this year" - claims Brad Gilbert

Brad Gilbert backs Carlos Alcaraz should he face Novak Djokovic at a Slam this year and believes the Spanish teenager could even claim his first Major in the next four events.

The 18-year-old phenomenon produced fireworks on the ATP tour last year by reaching the quarter-finals of the US Open, claiming a maiden tour-level title and winning the year-end Next Gen ATP Finals in an impressive breakthrough season. Now ranked at a career-high 16th in the world, Alcaraz has backed up his 2021 form with another title and a first Masters 1000 semi-final already this season.

Gilbert, who coached Andre Agassi to six of his eight Major titles and Andy Roddick to his 2003 US Open triumph, believes the youngster could win a Slam very soon and even down 20-time Slam champion Djokovic to do it:

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“I wanna see Carlos Alcaraz play [Djokovic]. I think Alcaraz is going to come on court and play him and think, ‘Okay, he’s not the same.’ I think if someone has to play him in the fourth round of a Slam, if you like to bet, put a few on Alcaraz. He’s right there and I like his chances of winning one of the next four Slams.”

He's not alone in making bold statements like that as Kafelnikov exclaimed last year that Alcaraz will win several grand slams in his career while also being a number one player in the future.