'Most complete player I have ever seen' - Macci on Alcaraz

Former world number one Serena Williams’s ex-coach, Rick Macci, has called Spain’s young tennis sensation Carlos Alcaraz the ‘most complete player’ he has ever seen. The 21-year-old is already regarded as one of the best players currently playing in men’s tennis in the singles category, along with Italy’s Jannik Sinner and Serbia’s Novak Djokovic.

Alcaraz once again showcased his talent and class in the recently concluded China Open. He lifted the title after beating world number one Sinner in the final in a thrilling contest with a score of 6-7, 6-4, 7-6 on Wednesday. It was his third consecutive win over the Italian in the calendar year and it was his fourth title as well.

In a post on social media platform X — previously known as Twitter — Macci praised Alcaraz and called him the ‘most complete player he has ever seen'. The 69-year-old also praised both players and compared their rivalry to the famous ‘Big Three’ rivalry, which dominated men’s tennis for a good part of 20 years.

“He is the most complete player I have ever seen,” he wrote. “Every box is checked from the technical to mental with imagination and inspiration. Throw in turbo speed and cotton soft hands and drop shot with better disguise than any Halloween costume in the room. The Spanish magician (Alcaraz) and Italian flamethrower (Sinner) are cut from the same cloth. Both have the juice and play loose. Both are getting better and have that DNA Grand Slam inner quality like Joker, Rafa and Federer.”

Before winning the ATP 500 event in China, the young Spaniard won 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, the Wimbledon title after beating Djokovic in straight sets with a score of 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 and the Indian Wells after beating Russia’s Daniil Medvedev in straight sets with a score of 7-6, 6-1.