"His creativity and movement are simply amazing": Brad Gilbert compares Carlos Alcaraz to a tennis legend

Saturday, 05 October 2024 at 19:30

Carlos Alcaraz was compared to 7-time Grand Slam champion John McEnroe upon his arrival at the Shanghai Masters. The Spanish World No. 3 received praise from legendary coach Brad Gilbert, who has worked with players like Andy Murray, Kei Nishikori, and most recently, Coco Gauff.

Alcaraz made his debut on Saturday in his second Asian tournament, easily defeating local player Juncheng Shang 6-2, 6-2. The 4-time Grand Slam champion claimed the title at the China Open (Beijing) just a week ago, defeating his likely biggest rival, Jannik Sinner, in an epic final (6-7, 6-4, 7-6). Alcaraz’s next challenge will be against another local player, Wu Yibing, who crushed 25th seed Nicolas Jarry 6-2, 6-1.

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One person who closely followed Alcaraz's match against the rising star Shang was coach Brad Gilbert, who recently ended a one-year partnership with Coco Gauff. The American coach compared Alcaraz to the legendary John McEnroe, noting that he couldn’t think of another player who had reached such a high level at such a young age.

"Watching the replay escape from Alcaraz, thinking 🤔 about his creativity and movement at the net are simply amazing. Someone else at the same age was 🤩 so good 👍at that, Johney Mac," Gilbert wrote.

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Recently, McEnroe himself compared Alcaraz to the Big-3 and claimed that 'Carlitos' plays even better than Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic at the same age.

"He's better than Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic at 21 for me... Alcaraz is a unique individual that we need around in the sport for a long time. You gotta love what he brings to the sport," McEnroe said during a pre-show at the 2024 French Open. "Carlos Alcaraz is my favorite player to watch. He's the most skilled young man I've ever seen playing at this age. It's hard to imagine he can keep improving because he is so good at everything already," he added.

Brad Gilbert

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watching replay escape from Alcaraz, thinking 🤔 about his creativity and movement at the net are simply amazing. someone else at same age was 🤩 so good 👍at that Johney Mac 🖥️

1:12 PM · Oct 5, 2024

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Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

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