Carlos Alcaraz may already seem like a player who has mastered the game, but former ATP star Jeremy Chardy believes there’s still significant potential for the young Spaniard to grow and refine his skills.
At just 21 years old, Alcaraz has already captured four Grand Slam titles. If he adds the Australian Open to his collection, joining the French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open trophies, he will join an exclusive club of players who have conquered all the major tournaments in tennis. However, despite his remarkable achievements, Chardy feels there’s room for improvement.
Pat Cash, a former Wimbledon champion, has praised Alcaraz as the most well-rounded young player he’s ever seen, suggesting that there aren’t many areas left for him to develop. Speaking with Tennis365 as part of his role with the Bank of China Hong Kong Open 2025, Cash commented on Alcaraz’s incredible all-around game.
“I hope Carlos continues to enjoy his tennis and doesn’t feel burdened by it all,” Cash said. “He could look at it and think, ‘I’ve done just about everything, and I’m getting tired of this.’ But right now, you can see he loves the game, and it’s amazing how complete he is at such a young age.”
Cash continued by pointing out that Alcaraz is one of the rare players who has mastered nearly every aspect of the game at an age when most players are still developing. “I’ve never seen a young player develop their game like Alcaraz has at this stage. Usually, there are areas for improvement at that age, but not since Boris Becker winning Wimbledon have we seen someone as complete as Alcaraz at 20.”
Describing Alcaraz’s strengths, Cash emphasized his agility, versatility, and his ability to perform on any surface. He went on to suggest that Alcaraz and fellow young star Jannik Sinner are the frontrunners for nearly every tournament they enter.
“Look at players like Federer, who needed to improve his backhand, or Nadal, who worked on his volleys. They spent years refining those aspects. But Alcaraz, at just 20, already seems like a fully-formed player,” Cash concluded.
However, Chardy offers a different perspective on Alcaraz’s game. While acknowledging the young Spaniard’s impressive accomplishments, Chardy believes that there’s still room for growth. “I can see why Pat says Alcaraz looks complete, but I still think he has a lot to improve,” Chardy told Tennis365 during the UTS Grand Final in London.
Chardy added that while Alcaraz plays with youthful energy and ambition, there are areas of his game that will mature over time. “He’s still playing like a young player, going for everything. But in a couple of years, we will see a more complete version of him, and that’s exciting to think about.”
He also highlighted that, at 21, no player should be considered fully complete. “What he’s accomplished already is incredible for his age, but at 21, you wouldn’t call anyone a complete player,” Chardy said.
Looking ahead to 2025, Chardy expects Alcaraz’s development to continue as he refines his game with experience. He also pointed to Alcaraz’s rivalry with Sinner as one of the most exciting storylines in tennis right now.
“We’re fortunate to have these two young players, Alcaraz and Sinner, who can elevate the sport in the coming years,” Chardy noted. “Sinner has been fantastic this year, but it’s too early to compare them to the ‘Big 3’ of Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic.”
For now, Chardy believes it’s premature to make comparisons. “It’s still early in their careers. In a few years, maybe we can start making those comparisons,” he concluded, suggesting that the next chapter of their rivalry will unfold in due time.
As both Alcaraz and Sinner continue to evolve, the tennis world is eager to see how their rivalry will shape the future of the sport.