Tennis legend Jimmy Connors suggests Carlos Alcaraz can conquer 15 Grand Slams if he doesn’t get too full of himself. The American also believes that Spaniards biggest competition will be the players younger than him while noting that the 20-year old is not afraid of rivals he is currently facing.
Alcaraz won his second Grand Slam by dethroning 23-time major champion Novak Djokovic in the 2023 Wimbledon final earlier this month to retain the world no. 1. The Murcia-born tennis station turned 20 in May, already has 12 ATP singles titles under his belt including 4 Masters 1000 titles. He maintained an impressive 20-10 (66.7%) record against top 10 opponents before entering the Wimbledon final.
Representing Spain at the Hopman Cup team event last week, he won both his singles rubber games against Borna Coric and David Goffin.
The American speaking on the Advantage Connors podcast, predicted how many major titles the 20-year old could win before he hangs his racket, but pressed that he must keep his current mentality.
“If he [Alcaraz] plays 12 more years, that’s 48 Grand Slams. If he doesn’t get too full of himself, I’d say [he could win] 15. That is if he doesn’t think he doesn’t have to work hard and it’ll come easy. He needs to continue what he’s doing and looks like he will,” said the 70-year-old.
The former world no. 1 also claimed the biggest threats the Spaniard will face are young players yet to arrive on the tour.
“There’ll be some young kids coming up now that will see him who are 17 or 18 who will believe that if he can do it, I can do it. He’s going to set the bench. It all depends on what comes behind him because he knows what’s in front of him. I don’t think he’s afraid of that,” added Connors.
Alcaraz is currently the youngest active player on the ATP circuit to have won a Grand Slam title. Daniil Medvedev (2021 US Open) and Dominic Thiem (2020 US Open) are the other active players to have sealed a major in their 20s.
Connors tops the all-time record for most ATP singles titles with a total of 109 trophies. The living legend has also secured 5 US Opens, 2 Wimbledon and 1 Australian Open title during his 24-year successful career.