Boris Becker on what Carlos Alcaraz has done which he considers the ‘most difficult feat’ in tennis

In the electrifying world of professional tennis, where legends are forged on the crucible of Grand Slam courts, Boris Becker, the six-time Major champion, has declared Carlos Alcaraz’s 2024 French Open triumph as the “most difficult feat” in the sport. The 22-year-old Spaniard’s victory over Alexander Zverev in a grueling five-set final—6-3, 2-6, 5-7, 6-1, 6-2—cemented his status as the youngest man to win Majors on clay, grass, and hard courts, a feat Becker places above even the achievements of Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Roger Federer at the same age. “In my eyes, he’s better at 21 than Nadal, Djokovic or Federer were at the same age,” Becker said, marveling at Alcaraz’s ability to conquer the terre battue of Roland Garros at such a tender age. As Alcaraz prepares to defend his title in 2025, facing Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in the first round on May 26, Becker’s praise underscores the monumental challenge of mastering clay, a surface that demands unparalleled physical and mental endurance.

Alcaraz’s 2024 Roland Garros victory was a testament to his precocious brilliance. At just 21, he outlasted Zverev in a four-hour, 19-minute epic, showcasing his explosive forehand, deft drop shots, and relentless athleticism. “What a gladiatorial battle between two fantastic players. The final had everything that makes a tennis heart beat faster,” Becker enthused, highlighting the match’s intensity and Alcaraz’s ability to rebound after dropping the second and third sets. The Spaniard’s triumph added a third Grand Slam to his resume, following the 2022 US Open and 2023 Wimbledon, making him only the seventh man to achieve the Surface Slam—winning Majors across all three surfaces. His ability to adapt his aggressive, high-octane style to the slow, grinding clay of Paris, where Nadal’s 14 titles loom as an untouchable benchmark, is what Becker deems the pinnacle of tennis achievement. “Beating [Nadal] there was the only impossible feat in a sport where anything is possible,” Becker noted, framing Alcaraz’s victory as a historic breakthrough.

The 2025 season has been a rollercoaster for Alcaraz, who enters Roland Garros as the No. 2 seed but with lingering concerns about his physical and mental health. After clinching titles at the ABN AMRO Open and Monte-Carlo Masters, injuries forced him to withdraw from the Madrid Open, and early exits in the Australian Open, Qatar Open, and Miami Open raised alarms. “We have to protect Carlos from himself,” Becker urged, reflecting on a conversation at the Laureus Awards where he told Alcaraz, “This isn’t a sprint, your life is a marathon.” Alcaraz’s smiling response—“You’re right. Talk to my people”—hinted at the pressures of a demanding schedule orchestrated by his team, including coach Juan Carlos Ferrero. Becker’s concern, echoed by fans on social media who noted Alcaraz’s “exhausting” 2025, stems from his own experience as a teenage prodigy, winning Wimbledon at 17. “I was also in that phase when I was 21-22, running from one commitment to the next,” he said, warning that Alcaraz’s relentless pace could lead to burnout.

Alcaraz’s path at Roland Garros is daunting. After Perricard, he could face tough tests against players like Casper Ruud or Jannik Sinner, with a potential final against Djokovic, whom he defeated in the 2023 Wimbledon final. His 45-9 record in 2025, including a silver medal at the Paris Olympics, showcases his resilience, but Becker believes Alcaraz’s mental fortitude will be key. “The game and the level that he’s playing with everything he’s been through right now, it’s insane,” Alcaraz said of his own ability to compartmentalize off-court pressures, a trait Becker lauded as “a class act” when Alcaraz supported Sinner during his doping controversy. Fans are buzzing, with one post declaring, “Carlos is built for Roland Garros—Becker’s right about his greatness!” As Alcaraz steps onto Court Philippe-Chatrier, his pursuit of a fifth Major and a double-digit Slam haul—predicted by Becker—hinges on balancing his prodigious talent with the marathon mindset Becker champions. In a sport defined by endurance, Alcaraz’s clay-court conquest remains the ultimate test, and his journey is only just beginning.