Jimmy Connors has said that Carlos Alcaraz is the future of men's tennis on the eve of the National Bank Canadian Open in Toronto, whilst Spencer Segura stated that Novak Djokovic can no longer improve as much.
Tennis legend Connors has praised world No. 1 Alcaraz on an episode of his podcast Advantage Connors. The 70-year-old was discussing the recent Wimbledon final where Alcaraz defeated seven-time SW19 champion Djokovic in a historic five-set thriller.
Connors' guest on the podcast, fellow former American player Spencer Segura, praised the young Spaniard's amazing talent, leading Connors, himself a former world No. 1, to call him the future of the sport.
Connors referenced the legendary Big Three of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Djokovic, and said that Alcaraz will be the next player to upgrade the sport.
"We always talk about it, he [Carlos Alcaraz] is the next generation.
"He is the one who will take the game to the next level, because it is known that Roger Federer is gone, Rafael Nadal has been injured, and we hope he comes back, he wants to play one more year. I hope this happens. Djokovic is already 36 years old," he said.
Meanwhile, Segura added that he thinks 20-year-old Alcaraz has a huge advantage over world No. 2 Djokovic in terms of age.
"People don't understand how athletes get to 35, 36 years old, because what they subject their body and even their mind to playing five-hour games and under that kind of pressure. The price to pay is high in terms of effort," he said, "One thing I've seen is that there's a big age difference, ok."
Segura then went on to further analyze Alcaraz's talent in this age-related context, saying:
"He has strokes that no one has. On the pitch, he knows how to angle. Off the pitch, he can float the ball. He has all the strokes I think his backhand is the better shot of the two. With his talent and his youth, he was able to play the ball from far back.
"Now that Djokovic is 36 years old, you don't have any more springs in your legs that this Alcaraz boy has.You just don't have them, and this guy is so talented that you know when he's going to end up winning that game, which was very close.
"I think from now on though, Alcaraz will only get better, I don't think Djokovic can get any better now."
23-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic withdrew from the Canadian Open, citing fatigue as he aims to get ready for the upcoming US Open. Meanwhile, Alcaraz is waiting to start his run at the tournament, having received a bye through the first round as the event's top-seeded player.
Jimmy Connors says tennis needs players like Federer, Djokovic, Nadal, & Alcaraz: “You need guys like Roger and Rafa and Novak that are carrying the game. And now Carlos Alcaraz & some of these younger kids to come in and continue to carry the game and move it forward.”
