"That was the B Carlos Alcaraz": John McEnroe says Spaniard was a 'little bit flat' despite outrageous skill against Sonego
ATPThursday, 18 January 2024 at 20:00
John McEnroe believes that Carlos Alcaraz was slightly flat during his win over Lorenzo Sonego but the fact that he found a way to win shows a true champions mentality and one that he is going to learn further.
Alcaraz in particular produced some utterly outrageous shot making and skill during his win over the Italian which McEnroe called the B version of the Wimbledon champion as he took it 6-4, 6-7(3), 6-3, 7-6(3) on Rod Laver Arena to reach the third round and keep his charge alive.
“What Carlos brings to the table is that incredible love of being out there and competing; pulling off what you consider to be unthinkable,” said the seven-time Grand Slam champion on Eurosport.
“In this match, for him, I thought he was a little bit flat. He just didn’t have that game that we usually see.
“He got that job done, and that’s the sign of a champion. He’s only 20, so he’s still going to learn.
“You win when you’re not playing your best, that was the ‘B’ Carlos Alcaraz, but he did what he had to do.”
Alcaraz's round the net shot in particular left tennis fans purring and John McEnroe joked that he hit 74 winners around the net once and pointed out a time in which he did it in Dallas against Ivan Lendl.
“[I’ve hit] 74 [winners around the net]! I’m kidding,” he said.
“I did do it once against Ivan Lendl in the final of a big event in Dallas which felt incredible.
“He said it went in between the net and the post, and it won me the match. It was 6-0 in the fifth set tie-breaker.
“It was a forehand, and the umpire gave me the point. That was the one occasion in my 15-year career that I can say thank you to the umpires.”
Samuel GillEditor-in-Chief
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has a broad background in tennis media. In his current role, he works closely with editors and writers to ensure coverage meets clear journalistic standards, with particular attention to verification, consistency, and timely updates when new information becomes available.
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