Alcaraz’s phenomenon on lawn: why he already won a place among the best in history

Throughout the history of tennis, the grass to lost preponderance in the calendar. Such is that the surface only occupies five weeks in the year, with four ATP 250, two ATP 500 tournaments and a Grand Slam. However, the best players in history have taken advantage of the little time they have on the field and have achieved the status of “specialists” in this area. Roger Federer, Pete Sampras, John Mcenroe, Andy Murray or Novak Djokovic They are some of the names that we can mention. But recently there was a surname that broke into force and got into this select group based on triumphs: Carlos Alcaraz.

Despite being only 22 years old, the former world No. 1 and currently number two records 32 matches played in the grass. From that debut to five sets against Japanese Yasutaka Uchiyama in Wimbledon 2021, won 29! And he only lost three times. That is to say, It has a percentage of victories on this surface of 90.6%. In addition to registering 12 triumphs and four trophies in their showcases: two Queen’s ATP 500 and two Wimbledon, where he is already emerging as a candidate after winning in the HSBC Championship.

With these numbers in sight, it becomes very difficult not to put Carlos Alcaraz as one of the best players of recent times in Pasto. To compare with other specialists, for example, Roger Federer He had worse record than Spanish in his first 32 games on this land. After having debuted in Queen’s 1999 against Byron Black, it reached 65.5% efficiency (21V and 11D).

And we are talking about who, possibly, was the best tennis player in the whole story. In more than 20 years of career, the Swiss won with 19 tournaments, of which ten were in Halle, eight in Wimbledon and one in Stuttgart ATP 250. In addition, he finished his career as a professional with a record of 192 victories and 29 losses. Legend numbers.

Removing his majesty in the comparison, Alcaraz had a much more devastating start than Andy Murray or Novak Djokovic. Both had a 24-8 mark (75% efficiency) in their first 32 meetings on grass, with only one title for the British (Queen’s 2009) and none for Serbian. In fact, the Spanish won two titles in Wimbledon long before what two did.

If we diveted much more in history, other experts had no very different numbers in their first incursions into the grass. Pete Samprasseven times winner of Wimbledon And with ten trophies, it started with a 22-10. Bjorn Borg, Another legend of this sport was in 21-11 during its beginnings in the 70 ‘and culminated his career with four glasses at the All England Club.

Who most approached the furious beginning of Carlitos was John Mcenroe. The American, who debuted in Wimbledon 1977 against the Egyptian Ismail El Shafei, was 27-5 until the 1980 edition of the world’s Grand Slam tournament in the world. His career ended with eight trophies on the surface, of which three correspond to Wimbledon.

Of course we must not stop mentioning other tennis players who left their mark on the green grass: Rod Laver, Jimmy Connors, John Newcombe, Ken Rosewall or Sleyton Hewitt They have an insured place in the big story. All of them have won Grand Slam tournaments in Pasto, with a mention: The US Open housed this surface from its creation until 1974 and the Australian Open did the same until 1987.

Being just a sub-23, Alcaraz is on his way to adding many trophies in the Courts of grass. In four years since its debut, a total of four and It is only five more titles to get into the historical top 3 of top winners in historycounting only the open era. The ranking, led by Federer with 19, continues with Sampras (10), Connors (9) And a fourth place matched between Ken Rosewall, Stan Smith, Alex Metreveli, Llenton Hewitt, John Mcenroe, Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic (8).

Carlitos is not only winning titles, It seems to be rewriting the big story of tennis on grass. Its roof is still unimaginable and its achievements are increasingly shocking. And with a Wimbledon In view, with concrete chances of a tricampeonato, all these achievements and numbers put it as the flag bearer of the surface. Only time will say if you can become the greatest tennis player in history in Pasto. But in his Olympus of figures, his name will continue to resonate strongly.