As the 2025 French Open reaches its thrilling climax, Carlos Alcaraz, the 22-year-old Spanish sensation, stands on the cusp of defending his Roland Garros title, facing world No. 7 Lorenzo Musetti in a highly anticipated semifinal. With four Grand Slam titles already to his name, Alcaraz has drawn bold praise from former world No. 1 Mats Wilander, who predicts the young star could make the French Open his “most dominant” major. Wilander’s endorsement, rooted in Alcaraz’s electrifying clay-court prowess, underscores the Spaniard’s potential to redefine tennis history as he battles for a fifth major crown in Paris.
Alcaraz’s journey at Roland Garros 2025 has been a testament to his versatility and resilience. After overcoming American J.J. Wolf, Dutch qualifier Jesper de Jong, and top-10 players Sebastian Korda, Félix Auger-Aliassime, and Stefanos Tsitsipas, Alcaraz secured his second French Open semifinal appearance. His 2024 triumph over Alexander Zverev in a grueling five-set final marked him as the youngest man to win major titles on all three surfaces—hard, grass, and clay—at just 21 years and 35 days. Now, as he faces Musetti, Wilander sees the slower clay courts of Paris as the ideal stage for Alcaraz’s dynamic game. “It could very well be his most dominant Slam, yes, because I think he likes when he has a little bit more time,” Wilander said, highlighting how the clay’s slower pace allows Alcaraz to unleash his explosive forehand and lightning-fast movement.
Wilander, a seven-time Grand Slam champion, believes Alcaraz’s versatility sets him apart from his chief rival, world No. 1 Jannik Sinner. While Sinner’s consistency may keep him atop the rankings longer, Wilander predicts Alcaraz will surpass him in major titles. “My prediction is that Sinner will spend more time as world No. 1 than Carlos Alcaraz and Carlos will win more majors,” he declared, pointing to Alcaraz’s ability to deliver in high-stakes moments. The Spaniard’s 4-0 record in Grand Slam finals, including victories over Sinner at the 2024 French Open and Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon in 2023 and 2024, supports Wilander’s confidence. “I say that because Carlos is a little more up and down and when he is at his best, he has proved he can beat Jannik and anyone else,” Wilander added, noting Alcaraz’s mental fortitude in comebacks like his 2024 semifinal win over Sinner, where he rallied from two sets to one down.
Despite his meteoric rise, Alcaraz’s game isn’t without flaws. Wilander acknowledged occasional lapses in focus, noting, “When he takes on lesser players, he goes walkabout for five or ten minutes mentally and suddenly he is playing a close match against someone he shouldn’t play a close match with.” This inconsistency was evident in his 2025 Australian Open quarterfinal loss to Djokovic and a surprising semifinal defeat to Jack Draper at Indian Wells, where he failed to defend his title despite a second-set bagel. Yet, Alcaraz’s ability to “lock in” during critical moments, as seen in his five-set battles against Sinner and Zverev last year, has fueled his rapid ascent. At 22, he’s already the youngest man to complete the Channel Slam—winning Roland Garros and Wimbledon in the same year—since Björn Borg in 1978.
Alcaraz’s clay-court dominance draws comparisons to his compatriot Rafael Nadal, whose 14 French Open titles remain the benchmark. Wilander, however, sees unique strengths in Alcaraz’s game, particularly his speed and shot-making variety. “The fact he has won Wimbledon twice is pretty amazing, US Open is kind of perfect because it’s not as fast, and Australia is a nightmare because it’s too quick for him,” Wilander said, suggesting the Australian Open remains Alcaraz’s toughest challenge. A victory in Melbourne would make him the youngest man to complete the Career Grand Slam, surpassing Nadal’s record set at 24. With 19 ATP titles, including seven Masters 1000 crowns, Alcaraz’s trajectory suggests he could chase the 20-plus major hauls of Djokovic, Nadal, and Roger Federer, a sentiment echoed by former No. 1 Rennae Stubbs, who said, “There is no doubt in my mind this kid actually might get to 20.”
As Alcaraz prepares for Musetti, the tennis world buzzes with anticipation. His 7-4 head-to-head edge over Sinner, including a recent Rome Masters final win, underscores his big-match mentality. “I don’t know what is my limit. I really want to keep winning,” Alcaraz said after his 2024 Wimbledon triumph, reflecting his ambition to join the sport’s pantheon. Whether he claims a second French Open title in 2025, Wilander’s prediction paints a picture of a player destined for greatness, with Roland Garros as his potential fortress.
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