John McEnroe expressed concerns about Carlos Alcaraz's ability to achieve the same level of success as Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic. Despite Alcaraz's strong return to tennis after a four-and-a-half-month wrist injury hiatus, McEnroe highlighted evolving competition as a significant barrier to matching the Grand Slam records of the sport's greats.
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At just 23 years old, Alcaraz has already won 7 Grand Slam titles and secured a silver medal at the Olympics. He recently made his comeback at the US Open, reaching the quarter-finals, and is set to defend his title at the ATP Tokyo final against Jiri Lehecka. However, McEnroe pointed out that the current generation includes formidable players like Ben Shelton, who can disrupt Alcaraz's game. In the podcast 'Off Court,' McEnroe noted, "One of the reasons why it will be so difficult for Carlos to approach the Grand Slam figures of Novak and Roger is that there are towering players like Shelton, capable of stepping onto the court and playing incredible matches."
He acknowledged that while there were tall servers during Federer and Djokovic's era, today's players have enhanced skills from the baseline and greater variety in their shots.
Despite Alcaraz's setback against Shelton at the US Open, McEnroe is not overly concerned. He believes that the outcome was influenced by Alcaraz’s lack of match practice and Shelton's exceptional performance. McEnroe commented, "Watching him play, he didn't seem to have lost competitive rhythm. That lack of match practice became evident when he faced a superior opponent who was playing the best match of his life."
McEnroe praised Alcaraz for his commitment to participate in the US Open, emphasizing the importance of his return to the tournament. He acknowledged Alcaraz’s positive demeanor following his loss, stating that his presence in the sport is invaluable, not only for his skills but also for his charisma and sportsmanship. This sentiment has been echoed by others in the tennis community since Alcaraz's return.