"Can’t really see him going out to nightclubs with young ladies on his arm": John Lloyd says tennis needs Agassi type personalities but Alcaraz isn't one
Former world number one Chris Evert’s ex-husband John Lloyd
believes that the tennis world needs more players like Andre Agassi.
Agassi is renowned for his clever on-court play but was also
famous for his off-court activities such as socialising.
Lloyd was quoted in a report recently where he suggested
that the sport is in need of another Agassi who not only won eight Grand Slams but
was very social as well.
"We need superstars like Andre Agassi. He was regularly
spotted with female celebrities,” he said. “For me it just makes our sport… it
just goes above the level that it’s at when you’ve got superstars that people
that don’t even like tennis but like Agassi… he was a crossover star. Everybody
knew Agassi because he was not just a great tennis player but because of his
off-court activities as well.
"Nick Kyrgios… I mean he’s taken now… but I think would
have been some example of who would do that if it was made available to him but
you see Nick hasn’t won enough matches… you’ve got to be a damn good player to
do that otherwise people aren’t interested."
Lloyd further stated that he cannot see the current world
number one Carlos Alcaraz as someone who would go to parties like Agassi did
even though he might win a lot of accolades in the future.
"Someone, I think who is going to win so many
tournaments anyways is Carlos Alcaraz and I think he has got a certain look
about him,” he said. “Once his English gets better which it will… He’s not
afraid of the cameras. But I can’t really see him going out to nightclubs with
young ladies on his arm… I might be wrong but I can’t see that.”
Alcaraz is currently taking part in the Omnium Banque
Nationale Canadian Open to prepare for the upcoming US Open.
Azeem Siddiqui is a seasoned sports journalist and data analyst with a strong background in both digital media and live sports production.
He began his journalism career working with partners of The New York Times and has since contributed to several leading international sports publications, including Fox Sports Asia, Calciomercato, and GiveMeSport. Since 2023, Azeem has been part of the TennisUpToDate team, where he has played a key role in sustaining the platform’s growth and ensuring tennis fans receive timely and reliable coverage of the sport’s biggest stories.
In addition to his editorial work, Azeem has extensive experience as a data analyst in live sports broadcasting—particularly in cricket—where he combines analytical precision with creative storytelling. He has collaborated with multiple production companies and cricket boards worldwide, delivering real-time insights and data-driven narratives during live match coverage.