Mats Wilander sends stern warning to Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz - "The hardest part has just begun for him"
ATP
Although Carlos Alcaraz successfully defended his Wimbledon title and added another chapter to his legacy, former World No.1 Mats Wilander believes the Spaniard's challenges have just begun.
Alcaraz defeated Novak Djokovic in the final on Sunday to claim his second Wimbledon title and fourth career Grand Slam singles title. The 21-year old has already broken several records during his time on the ATP Tour, with his most recent accomplishment being the most recent player to win the French Open-Wimbledon pairing in the same year.
Wilander believes difficult challenges lie ahead for the Spaniard
Seven-time Grand Slam champion and now Eurosport analyst Mats Wilander assessed Alcaraz's chances of maintaining his form, stating the Spaniard may have to deal with a lot of challenges in the future as he wins more titles.
"Carlos Alcaraz is now the third youngest player to win four Grand Slams, behind me and Bjorn Borg," said Wilander in an interview with L'Equipe. "But what happened to us? At 25, Bjorn and I broke down and almost ended our careers. It’s not so surprising that he won at a very young age: he was already very strong mentally when he was a kid, then a teenager. But this Wimbledon title is an explosion. It’s as if the hardest part has just begun for him.
"In fact, he should almost not react to this achievement. He should not realize what he’s accomplishing. He’s going to have to answer a whole bunch of questions: What do I want to accomplish? Win as many Grand Slams as possible? Stay No 1 for fifteen years in a row? Still be competitive at 37? Achieve the calendar Grand Slam?”
"In fact, he should almost not react to this achievement. He should not realize what he’s accomplishing. He’s going to have to answer a whole bunch of questions: What do I want to accomplish? Win as many Grand Slams as possible? Stay No 1 for fifteen years in a row? Still be competitive at 37? Achieve the calendar Grand Slam?”
Alcaraz will have a lot of points to defend in the second half of the season. The World No.3 finished runner-up in Cincinnati last year, in addition to making the final four at the 2023 US Open. Prior to these events, he will be competing at the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris, where he'll play in the singles event and compete alongside compatriot Rafael Nadal in the men's doubles tournament.
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