Mats Wilander has asserted that the fact Carlos Alcaraz will not “turn his back” on his “nature as a risky player” is something which differentiates him from Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal.
The former world No 1 feels Alcaraz is the “most fun and exciting player” ever when playing well, but argued “this personality can cause defeats” after he lost to Alexander Zverev at the Australian Open.
Two-time major champion Alcaraz was beaten in four sets by world No 6 Zverev in the quarter-finals of the 2024 Australian Open on Thursday.
Zverev produced one of the most impressive performances of his career as he landed a staggering 85% of his first serves and made just 25 unforced errors.
World No 2 Alcaraz has, though, received criticism for not adjusting his ultra aggressive approach when misfiring for much of the first three sets.
In his column for L’Equipe, Wilander expressed that he loves to watch Alcaraz, but suggested the 20-year-old could learn from two tennis legends when matches get “complicated.”
“Unlike Novak Djokovic or Rafael Nadal, Alcaraz is not a player who will turn his back when it is complicated,” the seven-time Grand Slam champion said.
“He constantly sticks to his nature as a risky player, whether the scoreboard shows 0–0 or 5–5. Of course, when he plays well, he’s the most fun and exciting player I’ve ever seen, but this personality can cause him defeats, like the one he just suffered.”
Six-time major winner Boris Becker also questioned Alcaraz’s overly “playful” tactics and lack of consistency, but credited him for his third set efforts.
“Carlos was very playful today – I would even say too playful. He made an unusually high number of mistakes in the first two sets. He played too many stops and had no balance in his game. Nevertheless, compliments to him for fighting back in the third set,” the German told Eurosport.
The former world No 1 was also full of praise for Zverev and declared his 26-year-old compatriot could win the tournament if he continues to volley as well as he did against Alcaraz.
“A fabulous performance and an incredibly high level from ‘Sascha’ Zverev. He also kept his nerve after losing the third set,” Becker added.
“Three almost perfect sets and the fighter’s heart to be able to turn the wheel again in the fourth set against a reinvigorated Alcaraz, that was very special. [He won] 95% of points at the net, can we show that to Sascha? That’s how he wins the Australian Open!”
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