I was still 17 and living at home with my parents when I watched Carlos Alcaraz win his first Wimbledon title, defeating household name Novak Djokovic in 2023 (1–6, 7–6, 6–1, 3–6, 6–4). Comfy on the sofa, with my dad on one side of me and our dog on the other, basking in the afternoon sunshine, I had no idea of the significance of this moment. He had already taken the French Open the year before, so I had at least known not to dismiss him. I was, however, still taken aback when he took down Djokovic in a brutal five-set battle.
Now, at nearly twenty years old, and living 300 miles away from where I was first a witness to Alcaraz’s artistry, I am all the more certain of his status as one of the all-time tennis greats. His victory at the Australian Open – once again fighting Djokovic (2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-5) – earned him a Career Slam at only twenty-two years old. He is the youngest to achieve this staggering feat, and yet he plays with a mastery beyond his years. He joins a list of tennis legends – Djokovic, Nadal, Federer, Agassi and Laver – making him only the sixth man to achieve a Career Slam in the Open Era.
Alcaraz is certainly worthy of a place on this list — his tactical placement of each shot on the court is masterful. It isn’t an exaggeration to compare the beauty of his tennis to the sublimity of classical art. Even when taking a huge risk, his tennis is filled with nothing but passion for what he does. He is vocal on the court, laughing and shouting, cupping his ear to encourage the crowd to roar ever louder for him. And, to every crowd’s shock, even the most outrageous of shots can’t help but just land in the corner of the court.
While he defeats his opponents with a ruthless dynamism, Alcaraz is a charmer off court. With thousands of dedicated fans who travel all around the world to see him play, Spanish flags in hand, he makes it feel as though he knows each and every one of them individually. There is a sense that he really, truly cares; he always takes the time to sign souvenirs, thank people for their well-wishes, and pose for a selfie (or 10), even after a five-set screamer. When writing for TNT Player’s Voice in 2023, he said: “I always try to play happy tennis…I try to enjoy myself on the court and to not make everything too monotonous. I try to create, and produce rare, beautiful shots.”
Alcaraz is a testament to the power of joy. With every match of ‘happy tennis’ he plays, he cements his place as one of the greatest of all time, and a player of a truly beautiful game.
“Carlos Alcaraz serving while playing Jan-Lennard Struff (Wimbledon 2025)” by 12121343A is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
