"But he still found a way to win": US Open 1997 runner-up in awe of Carlos Alcaraz after winning French Open

Former Canadian tennis player Greg Rusedski has praised Spain’s young tennis sensation Carlos Alcaraz for showing an ‘incredible’ pedigree. Alcaraz, along with Jannik Sinner of Italy, has already been regarded as one of the most highly-rated players currently playing men’s tennis in the singles category.

Recently, Alcaraz once again stamped his authority and showcased his calibre by winning the French Open after beating Germany’s Alexander Zverev in the final in a five-set thriller with a score of 6-3, 2-6, 5-7, 6-1, 6-2.

Rusedski, a former world number four who played in the final of the US Open in 1997, where he lost to Australia’s Patrick Rafter with a score of 6–3, 6–2, 4–6, 7–5, was recently quoted in a report in which he heaped praise on Alcaraz after his recent triumph. The Montreal-born stated that Alcaraz has already shown ‘pedigree’ after winning three Grand Slams on different surfaces despite being just 21.

“He came in with a bit of an injury on his elbow, he had a little bit of a problem with the groin,” he said. “He wasn’t playing his best tennis but he still found a way to win. But to win on three surfaces and be the youngest guy to win on clay, grass, and hard courts, the guy to do that before was a certain guy called Rafael Nadal, so he’s got an unbelievable pedigree.”

Alcaraz’s victory in Paris was his third major triumph. His first Grand Slam came in 2022 when he lifted the US Open after beating Norway’s Casper Ruud in the final with a score of 6-4, 2-6, 7-6, 6-3.

Last year, in 2023, Alcaraz defeated the former world number one, Serbia’s legendary tennis star Novak Djokovic, in the Wimbledon final in a five-set thriller, with a score of 1–6, 7–6(8–6), 6–1, 3–6, 6–4.