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Carlos Alcaraz compared to Djokovic
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Marin Cilic compares Carlos Alcaraz to top Spaniard: ‘But he has a better forehand’


Marin Cilic said Carlos Alcaraz reminds him of a highly-ranked Spanish player, and that Lorenzo Musetti is “half a step in front” of the 17-year-old.

The 2014 US Open champion compared the young Spaniard to world No. 12 Pablo Carreno Busta, who trains at Juan Carlos Ferrero’s academy. Former world No. 1 Ferrero is Alcaraz’s coach.

Cilic defeated world No. 120 Alcaraz in three sets in the opening round of the Estoril Open ATP 250 event on Wednesday.

ā€œHe was fighting really hard. But I think thatā€™s also a Spanish school of tennis. They are extremely disciplined, they play very hard, they are pushing themselves physically and you can see that he is also a hard worker,ā€ Cilic said in an interview after beating Alcaraz

ā€œ[Those] are great things for the sport and those things are going to help him to improve. I would say [Carlosā€™ game is] not too far fromĀ Pablo Carreno Bustaā€™s just with the style, but I would say Carlos has just a bit [of a] better forehand and I would say Pablo has a better backhand.

ā€œBeing 17 and already with that kind of a game that heā€™s got, heā€™s going to be only improving with matches at this level. He will definitely have with more and more matches a better and better game and heā€™s going to be lifting up [his level].

ā€œI think Juan Carlos is a great coach for him in that sense because I think Juan Carlos also played a similar game to his: great forehand, moving really well, very solid backhand, returning good.

“Definitely he can improve in some shots and parts of his game, but already he is looking like a pro player and playing really well at this level.ā€

Cilic also beat Lorenzo Musetti – another of the ATP tour’s brightest young stars – at the Miami Open last month.

ā€œLorenzo likes to play a little bit further away from the baseline, likes to open up the court, uses angles, has got really good touch. Heā€™s got also a one-hander, plays the slice and I think clay is his favourite surface,ā€ Cilic said on the 19-year-old Italian.

ā€œI feel heā€™s just maybe half a step in front of Carlos. Carlos is just getting on the tour [and he has] a bit [of a] different game.

ā€œCarlos is playing more aggressive and also trying to attack, putting pressure on the opponent and I think both of those games that they have can improve a lot.ā€


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Tim Farthing, Tennishead Editorial Director & Owner, has been a huge tennis fan his whole life. He's a tennis journalist and entrepreneur as well as playing tennis to a national standard. He also helps manage his local club and volunteers for his local tennis organisation. He's a specialist in content about the administration of professional tennis and tennis coaching for all levels.