Boris Becker: It's misleading to think Carlos Alcaraz can pass 20 major titles

Boris Becker - Roland Garros 2016 and Carlos Alcaraz - Shanghai Masters 2023

October 25, 2023

ATP Tennis Players, Carlos Alcaraz, Tennis News

Boris Becker: It’s misleading to think Carlos Alcaraz can surpass 20 Grand Slam titles

Carlos Alcaraz has taken the tennis world by storm over the past few years and has already drawn comparisons to the likes of Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, but Boris Becker believes it’s ‘misleading’ to think that the 20-year-old can have the same sort of Grand Slam success as ‘the big three’.

Alcaraz has won two Grand Slam titles and became the youngest-ever world No.1 last year at the US Open, but the former coach of Djokovic has suggested that it’s too early to make predictions about his future.

“It’s almost impossible to avoid comparison with Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer,” said Becker But please give him time to develop, so that he doesn’t lose interest in the sport, because we still need him for a few years.

“It is misleading to think Carlos can surpass 20 Grand Slam titles. I am convinced that three players will never again win more than 20 Grand Slam tournaments at the same time.”

Becker will need to keep his eyes on Alcaraz, as he is now the coach of one of the Spaniard’s young rivals in Holger Rune.

Both Alcaraz and Rune were scheduled to be at the ATP 500 tournament in Basel this week, but the former withdrew due to ‘a problem’ with the plantar fascia in his left foot and muscle fatigue in his lower back.

The world No.2 revealed that he would be pulling out from the Swiss Indoors in a bid to recover in time for the Paris Masters and ATP Finals to close his 2023 season.

Unfortunately I will not be able to play in Basel this year! ? I have a problem with the plantar fascia in my left foot and muscle fatigue in my lower back which need treatment so I can play the rest of the season. I hope to see you all soon! pic.twitter.com/44MvsjQDVn

— Carlos Alcaraz (@carlosalcaraz) October 18, 2023

Inside the baseline…

Although Becker is probably right when implying that it’s too early to be comparing Alcaraz to ‘the big three’, the Spaniard has had unprecedented success at such an early stage in his career. This was optimised at Wimbledon earlier this year, when Alcaraz ended Djokovic’s streak and became the first person to beat him on Centre Court since Andy Murray back in 2013.

Carlos Alcaraz Career Achievements

Despite Becker shutting down the comparisons of Alcaraz to ‘the big three’, the Murcian has actually managed to achieve some things that Djokovic, Nadal and Federer have not in his young career.

Here are some of his career achievements:

Career-high ranking: No.1 (36 weeks)

Total number of titles: 12

Grand Slam titles: 2 (US Open 2022 and Wimbledon 2023)

ATP Masters 1000 titles: 4 (Miami 2022, Madrid 2022 & 2023, Indian Wells 2023)

Open Era Records

Youngest Miami Open winner (18 years 11 months)
Youngest Madrid Open winner (19 years)
Youngest world No.1 (19 years 4 months)
Youngest year-end world No.1 (19 years 5 months)

A lifelong dream! ?? You always have to believe! I'm only 20 years old, everything is happening too fast, but I'm very proud of how we work every day. Thank you everyone for your support, from the bottom of my heart! ??? @Wimbledon

? Getty pic.twitter.com/MsdjFqBhiO

— Carlos Alcaraz (@carlosalcaraz) July 16, 2023