Seven-time Grand Slam champion Mats Wilander has heaped praise onto world number six Carlos Alcaraz stating that he is “not afraid of anything or anybody” at the French Open. 

The 19-year-old Alcaraz has had a meteoric rise in 2022, with the man from Murcia becoming the youngest player in Tour history to win an ATP 500 event and also becoming the youngest ever Miami Open champion. 

Alcaraz has continued his great form on clay too, as the 19-year-old claimed back-to-back titles for the first time in his career in Barcelona and Madrid.

En route to his second career masters title in the Spanish capital, the teenager became the first man to ever defeat Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal back-to-back at the same tournament on clay.

The victory in Madrid earlier this month meant that Alcaraz is now sitting at a career high sixth in the world as he looks to claim a maiden Grand Slam title in Paris next week.

Former world number one Mats Wilander reflected on the Alcaraz’s fine form as he praised the young Spaniard’s physical as well as mental capabilities.

Speaking to Eurosport, the Swede said, “Yeah, I mean, it’s kind of back to what we are used to in the eighties.

“I was 17 when I won here in 1982… Boris Becker was even younger than me when he won Wimbledon in 1985 and people always talk about ‘why can you not be 18, 19 anymore’, because the game is so physical.

“I think that it’s mental and I think Carlos Alcaraz has this unbelievably positive attitude. He’s very strong physically, he understands the game with hitting drop shots and hitting power shots – especially with the forehand – but more than anything, it’s the mentality that he’s not 19, he’s like 29, when he’s playing on the court.

“He loves being on the big court[s]; he has an unbelievable conversation with Juan Carlos Ferrero whilst he’s playing, and I feel like he’s not afraid of anything, or anybody.”

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