Carlos Alcaraz according to the esteemed coach Rick Macci will once again be a contender for major titles alongside Novak Djokovic in 2024 as he took exception to Holger Rune’s coach Boris Becker’s comments about the Spaniard.
After a breakthrough 2022 season where he won the US Open and concluded the season as year-end No. 1, Alcaraz continued to impress everyone by winning the 2023 Wimbledon Championships but to the surprise of many experienced a slump in the second half of his 2023 campaign.
All in all, the 20-year-old clinched six titles in 2023 but none of those came after his epic five-set victory against 24-time Grand Slam champion at the All England Club.
Despite a rare dip in the latter half of the 2023 calendar, Macci who has worked with stars like Serena and Venus Williams, Maria Sharapova and Andy Roddick, believes Alcaraz will be a legit threat in all four majors in 2024.
“As I said, three years ago, it’s something the world hadn’t seen. He’s something, in my opinion, that is very unique,” said the American during an interview with Tennis Infinity.
“He never played that much on grass, and then he made some Houdini escapes at Wimbledon, and then he beat Djokovic in the final. So, I think it should show everybody his greatness.
“And remember, he’s 20 years old. I mean, people forget this, and you’re gonna have some ups and downs. In my opinion, he’s getting better, but here’s what I mean by that. People look at him, but he didn’t do that well at the end of the season.
“I’m still putting my money on him next year as a contender for every Grand Slam right there with Djokovic.”
Alcaraz, current ATP #2, failed to reach a final during the last few months of the season and recorded back to back losses against Djokovic in Cincinnati championship match and the semifinal of year-end ATP Finals in Turin.
This led to the former 6-time Grand Slam champion suggesting that the 2-time Grand Slam champion has lost his way, with the former World No. 1 saying “other players have developed and Alcaraz hasn’t”.