Tennis legend John McEnroe created a big stir when he suggested Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner could have beaten a prime Rafael Nadal at the French Open, but Stefanos Tsitsipas has suggested that comment was not misplaced.

McEnroe admiration for Alcaraz and Sinner saw him claim the duo may have had a chance to dethrone the 14-time Roland Garros champion on a court he made his own, in comments that sparked a huge debate among tennis fans.

“You would make a serious argument with both guys that they would be favoured to beat Nadal, at his best,” the American said on TNT Sports. “The tennis level right now is higher than I’ve ever seen.”

The notion that the greatest clay court player of all-time would have met his match against Alcaraz and Sinner was given some credence when the two young guns at the top of the men’s game contested an epic Roland Garros final earlier this month.

Yet the idea that Nadal’s Roland Garros levels have already been bettered by the players currently holding the top two positions in men’s tennis is hard to imagine when we are talking about a player who has a statue to mark his greatness at the Paris venue.

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Several leading names have dismissed McEnroe’s comments, but former French Open finalist Tsitsipas has told Tennis365 that they carry plenty of weight.

Having played against Nadal, Alcaraz and Sinner on clay court, the Greek star is in a great position to evaluate McEnroe’s statement and his verdict may be seen as a surprise.

Speaking exclusively to Tennis365 at the launch of Adidas’ The London Originals Collection at a lavish pre-Wimbledon barbecue in London, he joined the debate on the level being produced by Alcaraz and Sinner as he compared them to the most successful clay court player of all-time.

“I have played both of them,” Tsitsipas told Tennis365 as he spoke about Alcaraz and Sinner. “Both of them are great ball strikers, both on clay and hard, but I would favour, as a creative player more, more of a creative player on clay, I would favour Carlos.

“I feel like he has way more options when he plays and it’s quite evident and clear. I mean, it’s not something absurd. And I would favour obviously Sinner on hard courts.

“So I would give Carlos more chances on Nadal on clay. If I have to bet my money somewhere.”

He went on to add: “I feel like Carlos would have chances against prime Nadal on clay. I think so. I’m not saying he would have beaten him, but he would have had chances to create something special against him.”

Tsitsipas went on to suggest the emergence of Alcaraz and Sinner should not be a surprise as he predicts more names will join them at the top of the game in the coming years.

“It’s not annoying that these two guys are playing so well,” he added. “This is what you expect. It’s going to keep happening that we have new champions, new stars. It’s going to keep happening.

“It’s part of the circle of the game and how things work. I’m telling you, in the next five years, we’ll see more superstars enter the game and more players that have a different identity from those that are playing now.”

READ NEXT: Wimbledon men’s singles draw: Djokovic, Sinner, Draper all in top half, Alcaraz handed kinder draw

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Emma Raducanu was at the height of her fame when she shared a court with Welsh teenager Mimi Xu for the first time.

It was the summer of 2022 and a few months after Raducanu’s incredible US Open win, she was looking for a practice partner as she prepared for only her second appearance at Wimbledon.

Raducanu was only 19 herself at the time and her success in New York was a source of huge inspiration to the young British girls emerging through the ranks and hoping to follow in her footsteps.

So when she offered 14-year-old Xu a chance to hit with her on on the grass courts at the NTC, it was a moment to savour for the rising star.

“Emma wanted to play last minute at the NTC on the grass and she bumped into Mimi actually offered to play with her for 45 minutes – that’s something that Mimi is never going to forget,” recalls former British No 1 Katie O’Brien, who is now LTA women’s national coach.

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Three years on and 17-year-old Xu is starting to make her way into the senior ranks, with the wold card she was awarded by the All England Club for the main draw at Wimbledon now serving up a mouth-watering first round clash against Raducanu that may well be on Centre Court.

This is a stunning rise for a young player who has been talked about as a star in the making for some time and she has backed up that status in recent weeks with some fine wins on grass courts.

Her impressive win against world No 52 Alycia Parks in the Birmingham Open this month was the highlight of her career so far and she backed that up with a win against world No 124 Katarzyna Kawa in Birmingham, before recording another fine victory against world No 97 Katie Volynets at this week’s Eastbourne Open.

A powerful player who excelled in the Junior ranks, Xu reached top ten of the ITF rankings which provides an insight into the rising stars of the game.

A multiple winner of LTA Junior Nationals titles, Xu took another stride forward in her career as she lifted the title at W35 Aldershot last year and now she relishes the challenges put in front of her.

“At the moment, my focus is on developing my game rather than results as that is the best area to focus on at this stage,” she told the ITF last year.

“Of course, we all want to win, but there is a great spirit among the British girls at the moment and we are all driving ourselves forward to the next level.”

Xu has been busy off the court too, recently completing her maths A-Level two years early and the teenager has no plans to stop there as she hopes to maintain her love of studying alongside tennis.

“In my free time I just like to study. I don’t know what else to do in my free time,” she adds. “It’s something different to tennis so it keeps my mind working.

“My tutor has been amazing. Whenever I have time I will have a lesson with her and it makes it a lot easier when I am away.”

Her studies are behind her for now as tennis is the focus and while there is always a drive to ensure junior players do not get the ‘Raducanu treatment’ in the hype stakes, Xu will now face a few days in the spotlight that will be an eye-opener for what is to come in her career.

Initially shy when facing the media, Xu has matured into an impressive speaker when presented with a journalist of thrust before a camera and she will have plenty of exposure to that over the next few days.

The presence of British teenagers Xu, Junior French Open finalist Hannah Klugman (drawn against Canadian 29th seed Leylah Fernandez) and reigning Junior Open champion Mika Stojsavljevic (drawn against American 31st seed Ashlyn Krueger) highlights the progress of the LTA’s junior pathway in Britain, with O’Brien excited by what is to come over the next few years.

“Success breeds success in the same professional habits that we see the pros have and the youngsters can see that,” said the coach who oversaw the development of Xu, Klugman and Stojsavljevic.

“I think our senior British pros realise just how influential they are, how much they can inspire the next generation. For our young players to spend time with them at the NTC and maybe even practice with them is an invaluable experience.

“We’ve got a crop of young talent coming through, it’s not just one and the spotlight isn’t just on that one person.

“We have really good depth of talent amongst our junior girls. Our girls all get along so well and it feels like they are driving each other on, while also inspiring the generation just behind them.

“It helps that they are developing as a pack. There is not a single stand-out player as they are all very good, so they will drive each other on and progress together.

“These players are still very much at a developmental stage, but they are progressing quickly as they have played in some high profile and also have Junior Grand Slam experience.”

They have played in the Junior Grand Slams and now the biggest stage of them all awaits Xu, Klugman and Stojsavljevic.

READ NEXT: British teenager inspired by Emma Raducanu ahead of Wimbledon debut

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The Wimbledon men’s singles draw has been revealed, with leading contenders Jannik Sinner, Novak Djokovic, and Jack Draper all in the top half.

World No 1 Sinner is the top seed in the men’s singles draw, and will be looking to put his heartbreaking French Open final defeat behind him.

The Italian has been handed a kind pathway early on, with compatriot Luca Nardi in round one and a potential third round against 27th seed Denis Shapovalov.

Sinner could face 13th seed Tommy Paul in the round of 16 and seventh seed Lorenzo Musetti in the quarter-final, though his first real test could ultimately come in the semi-finals.

Fourth seed Draper is his projected semi-final opponent, though the Brit has been handed an incredibly tricky draw, including a potential quarter-final versus sixth seed Djokovic.

The Brit could face 28th seed and Halle Open champion Alexander Bublik in round three, just weeks after the Kazakh stunned the world No 4 at Roland Garros.

Draper could then have to beat 15th seed Jakub Mensik in round four before a potential last-eight versus Djokovic, a seven-time Wimbledon champion, and then hypothetically face Sinner.

World No 6 Djokovic’s quest for a 25th major starts against Alexandre Muller, with a potential round three versus 30th seed Alex Michelsen.

The Serbian’s first real significant test could come against 11th seed Alex de Minaur in the fourth round, before a potential blockbuster quarter-final versus home favourite Draper.

In contrast to the stacked top half, second seed and two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz has been handed a hugely favourable pathway to what would be a third straight Wimbledon title.

The 22-year-old opens his campaign against Fabio Fognini, with 25th seed Felix Auger-Aliassime and 14th seed Andrey Rublev his potential third and fourth round opponents.

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A first test could come in the quarter-final versus eighth seed Holger Rune, the last man to beat Alcaraz before the start of the Spaniard’s 18-match win streak.

However, Danish star Rune faces a tough mini-section including the likes of 12th seed Frances Tiafoe and 23rd seed Jiri Lehecka.

Projected to face Alcaraz in the semi-final is world No 3 and third seed Alexander Zverev, who will be hoping to make it past the fourth round of Wimbledon for the first time.

The German starts his campaign against Arthur Rinderknech, but could face a tough third round against 32nd seed and 2021 finalist Matteo Berrettini; the Italian beat Zverev at Wimbledon in 2023.

Zverev is projected to face 16th seed Francisco Cerundolo in the fourth round before a potential quarter-final against fifth seed Taylor Fritz.

US ace Fritz beat the German at Wimbledon twelve months ago and has won his last five matches against Zverev, though he has a tough pathway early on.

The world No 5 opens against big-serving Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, before a potential third round against 26th seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, and fourth round versus Daniil Medvedev.

Read Next: Wimbledon women’s singles draw: Gauff & Swiatek bottom quarter, Raducanu faces Brit, Eala against reigning champion

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The Wimbledon women’s singles draw has been revealed, with Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff in line to meet in a blockbuster quarter-final.

Gauff and Swiatek have not met since the Madrid Open semi-finals in May, when the American dropped just two games to reach the final, and win a third straight match against the Pole.

Now, the two could be in line for a first Grand Slam meeting since the 2024 French Open, with second seed Gauff and eighth seed Swiatek in the same quarter at SW19.

World No 8 Swiatek has been handed a particularly tough draw, with 11th seed and 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina her potential fourth-round opponent, just weeks after they met at Roland Garros.

The Pole will open against Polina Kudermetova, while second seed Gauff begins her campaign with a tough test against Dayana Yastremska.

World No 2 Gauff could also face 28th seed Sofia Kenin, who beat her in the first round in 2023, in round three, before a projected round of 16 versus 16th seed Daria Kasatkina.

The 21-year-old also finds herself in the same half of the draw as compatriot and third seed Jessica Pegula, with the two projected to meet in the semi-final.

World No 3 Pegula begins her campaign against Elisabetta Cocciaretto, with 15th seed Karolina Muchova a potential stumbling block in the fourth round.

Seventh seed Mirra Andreeva also finds herself in this quarter of the draw, with the 18-year-old projected to face 10th seed Emma Navarro in the round of 16.

However, this mini-section of the draw also contains 17th seed and defending champion Barbora Krejcikova, who faces a blockbuster opener against Alex Eala.

Into the semi-finals of Eastbourne, the Filipina star will make her Wimbledon debut inside Centre Court.

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In the top half of the draw, home favourite Emma Raducanu has been handed a kind first-round draw in the form of 17-year-old wildcard Mimi Xu, a fellow Brit.

However, the world No 39 faces a tough second round against either 32nd seed McCartney Kessler or 2023 Wimbledon winner Marketa Vondrousova, who have both won grass-court titles this season.

All three are in the same mini-section of the draw as world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka, many people’s pick to win the title at the All England Club.

Sabalenka opens against qualifier Carson Branstine in round one, with a projected fourth round versus 14th seed Elina Svitolina.

The Belarusian is drawn into the same quarter of the draw as sixth seed Madison Keys, with a rematch of the Australian Open final a significant possibility.

Keys is projected to face 29th seed Leylah Fernandez in round three and ninth seed Paula Badosa in round four, though the Spaniard has a tough start against British star Katie Boulter.

Also in the top half of the women’s singles draw is 2024 runner-up and fourth seed Jasmine Paolini, who is projected to meet Sabalenka in the semi-final.

Paolini could face 30th seed Linda Noskova in the third round and could also take on big-hitting Amanda Anisimova in round four, the 13th seed having reached the Queen’s final two weeks ago.

Also in this quarter of the draw is fifth seed Zheng Qinwen, who is projected to take on Paolini in the last eight.

World No 5 Zheng Qinwen could face Naomi Osaka in the second round, and potential 12th seed Diana Shnaider in round four.

Read Next: Wimbledon men’s singles draw: Djokovic, Sinner, Draper all in top half, Alcaraz handed kinder draw

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Alex Eala is set to reach a new rankings milestone after dismantling Dayana Yastremska to reach the semi-finals of the 2025 Eastbourne Open.

The rising Filipina star scored a dominant 6-1, 6-2 victory over world No 42 Yastremska in just over an hour in the quarter-finals of the grass-court WTA 250 event.

Eala broke in all seven of Yastremska’s service games — three times in the opening set and four times in the second set — as she ran riot on return (winning 68% of return points).

The left-hander has now won five consecutive matches in Eastbourne, including the two she won in qualifying against Zeynep Sonmez and Hailey Baptiste.

Eala destroyed Lucia Bronzetti 6-0, 6-1 in the opening round of the main draw before progressing past Jelena Ostapenko in the second round.

She was up a break in the third set at 0-6, 6-2, 3-2 against Ostapenko when the Latvian was forced to retire through injury.

In the semi-finals, Eala will face world No 111 Varvara Gracheva — a 24-year-old Frenchwoman who received a quarter-final walkover as her scheduled opponent Barbora Krejcikova pulled out.

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With her latest win, Eala has climbed to a projected new career-high ranking of world No 64 in the Live WTA Rankings. Her previous best ranking was 69th.

Having started Eastbourne ranked 74th, Eala has collected 101 points for her run to the semi-finals as a qualifier.

If she were to lift her maiden WTA title on the English South Coast, Eala would be projected to jump to 52nd in the world, while a runner-up finish would see her climb to 56th.

Following her second round win against Ostapenko, Eala spoke about her form on the grass.

“The grass season is not very long, and I haven’t had many [matches] in general, so I’m happy that I’m able to do well.

“I think it’s growing on me, I think it suits my game.”

On the challenge of facing Ostapenko, she added: “I think I was very happy with how I was able to recollect and rebound after that first set. Because she was really dominating me.

“I’m proud of how I was able to find solutions. She retired but I had good chances in the third. I broke her and I was on a roll.

“Although you can never know what could have happened if she continued, but overall I’m happy.”

READ NEXT: Martina Navratilova names her three favourites to win Wimbledon women’s title

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The definition of greatness is often subjective, but a handful of tennis legends stand out as the best players to set foot on a grass court.

All the great champions find a way to win on every surface and when it comes to the grass court season, that challenge can be the most demanding.

We only play on this surface for a few weeks each year, the icons who shine on the lush turf hold a special place in the hearts of tennis fans and here, we have built the ultimate grass court player using the best qualities of the game’s ultimate champions.

THE SERVE – Serena Williams and Pete Sampras

A teenage Boris Becker changed the direction of tennis when he broke through and won The Queen’s Club Championships and Wimbledon for the first time in 1985, with his booming serve bringing a new dimension to the sport. 

Those who followed in his footsteps built on that blueprint and when the grass court champions who boasted the most effective serves are considered, Pete Sampras and Serena Williams have to be in the conversation. 

Sampras dominated at Wimbledon as he won seven titles between 1993 and 2000, while he was also a two-time winner on the Queen’s Club grass courts.

Williams also won seven Wimbledon singles titles and claimed an Olympic gold medal on the Wimbledon grass in 2012, with her power-packed serve at the heart of her aura in a career that included 23 Grand Slam singles titles.

THE FOREHAND – Steffi Graf and Roger Federer

There was unique beauty in the forehands of German great Graf and Swiss maestro Federer.

Seven-time Wimbledon champion Graf struck this shot with an elegance and ferocity that intimidated her rivals, with the sound of the ball crunching onto her racket echoing around the great tennis arenas of the world in a career that saw her win 22 Grand Slam singles titles.

If Graf’s forehand resembled a knife slicing through blades of grass, Federer’s has the silky elegance of a master craftsman at work.

His grace on a tennis court somehow appeared to be elevated by the beauty of the green grass courts he loved more than any other, with his forehand winners drawing gasps of admiration from the crowd in every match he played.

THE BACKHAND – Martina Navratilova and Andy Murray

Navratilova had a one-handed backhand that was loaded with pace and always delivered with wondrous accuracy.

One-handed backhands are now a rarity in the women’s game, with the footage of Navratilova winning her nine Wimbledon singles titles and a remarkable 11 wins at the LTA tournament at Eastbourne a permanent reminder of the class she exuded when striking a backhand.

Britain’s Andy Murray also excelled with this shot, as he claimed two Wimbledon titles on grass and five singles titles at The Queen’s Club.

Murray’s ability to stoop low and find what seemed to be impossible angles were at the heart of his triumphs on grass, while his fantastic lob was also a sumptuous option when the ball was fizzed into his backhand. 

WINNING MINDSET – Billie Jean King and Novak Djokovic

These two players overcame so many barriers to achieve greatness that will stand the test of time.

King’s achievements off the court are probably more remarkable than her magnificent accomplishments on it, which included six Wimbledon singles titles and four in the Open Era.

She also changed face of the women’s game forever as she was a prominent figure in the formation of the Women’s Tennis Association and still continues to fight for equality in the sport with passion that has broken down so many barriers.

Djokovic has to overcome his own mission impossible, as he seemed destined to be the outsider in the battle between Federer and his great rival Rafael Nadal when he set his sights on Grand Slam glory.

Not only did Djokovic find a way to match his two great rivals, but he will finish his career with more major titles than both and will look to equal Federer’s all-time record of eight Wimbledon titles this summer.

MOST MATCH WINS ON GRASS – WOMEN

Martina Navratilova (CZE/USA) – 309

Evonne Goolagong (AUS) – 285

Margaret Court (AUS) – 264

Virginia Wade (GBR) – 212

Chris Evert (USA) – 208

MOST MATCH WINS ON GRASS – MEN

Roger Federer (SUI) – 192

Jimmy Connors (USA)- 185

John Newcombe (AUS) – 164

Phil Dent (AUS) – 157

John Alexander (AUS) – 157

The post Novak Djokovic, Serena Williams and Roger Federer – building the ultimate grass court champion appeared first on Tennis365.

Carlos Alcaraz’s growing collection of sponsors has a new addition, after it was confirmed that the Wimbledon champion has signed a mega-money deal with Evian.

Alcaraz is one of the most attractive players for the world’s leading brands to sign up after a sensational start to his career, with his epic French Open final win against Jannik Sinner earlier this month cementing his status as a sporting superstar.

Now the world No 2 has joined Emma Raducanu, Frances Tiafoe and Arthur Fils as an Evian brand ambassador, as he looks to cash in on his remarkable success on the court at the age of just 22.

“Hydration is an important part of my daily routine and I’m excited to work with a brand that celebrates the joy of feeling youthful and full of life. I hope we can inspire others to prioritise their well-being,” said Alcaraz as his Evian deal was confirmed.

Alcaraz adds Evian to a list of sponsors that includes Nike, Babolat, Rolex, BMW, Calvin Klein, and Louis Vuitton, with the scramble to be a part of his story certain to gather momentum in the years to come.

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With Roger Federer, Serena Williams and Rafael Nadal leaving the tennis stage following their retirements and Novak Djokovic set to follow them soon into the tennis afterlife, Alcaraz is now the prized asset for any major brand looking to sign up a tennis star.

His beaming smile and clean-cut personality ensure he will provide a guaranteed boost for any brand, with Evian making a shrewd move by signing up the 22-year-old.

The value of this deal was not disclosed, but it has been suggested that Alcaraz will be offered seven-figure sums for deals of this nature.

Raducanu was also attracting offers of that scale after her 2021 US Open win, but her stock has fallen dramatically over the last four years as she has struggled to replicate the form she showed during that famous run in New York.

There have been suggestions that she has lost some of her big sponsorship deals in recent months, but the press release announcing the Alcaraz deal with Evian confirmed the British star is also still part of their brand ambassador roster.

It means Evian will have a doubles dream team playing together at this year’s US Open, after it was confirmed that Alcaraz and Raducanu will team up in this mixed doubles tournament.

A revamped doubles event at this year’s US Open will see a host of big-name stars playing in a tournament that will take place a week before the singles, with Alcaraz and Raducanu’s double act an eye-catching combination.

“She’s gonna be the boss. I’m super excited about it,” said Alcaraz as he spoke about his doubles match-up with Raducanu. “I think it’s going to be great. It was an amazing idea for the tournament.

“I’ve known Emma for a really long time ago, so we know each other. I have a really good relationship with her. We are going to enjoy it, for sure.

“I will try to bring my doubles skill. We will try to win, but obviously it’s going to be really, really fun.

“I was thinking that I couldn’t play better unless it was with Emma. I just asked Emma if she wants to play doubles with me. Yeah, I made that special request.”

Raducanu was also asked about the US Open pairing as she prepared to play at the Eastbourne Open and it was clear that she was excited by the prospect.

“I’ve known him for years and actually in Wimbledon 2021, it was like kind of the first time I started getting to know him, and I had a good run there and then also again in the US Open in 2021,” she said.

“And I remember he was always playing the day before me and I was playing like the second day of the round. And I would see him win and then I would have the motivation to win and get myself into that position too.

“And I remember he beat Stef [Tsitsipas] in the third round and it was like a big win, his breakout kind of win on a big stage and it was really cool to kind of, I guess, go through that tournament together and then I kept going through the US Open, but we were staying in touch for the whole time and yeah, it’s nice.

“We have a good relationship still. He’s obviously overtaken me a lot, but it’s nice that we have that from a while ago.”

READ NEXT: Carlos Alcaraz and Emma Raducanu romance rumours set to be fuelled over the next few weeks

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Carlos Alcaraz is heading into Wimbledon as the firm favourite to make it three wins in succession at the All England Club, but he might be keen to avoid Belgian veteran David Goffin in the opening rounds.

Goffin is one of the few players in the game who has a winning record against five-time Grand Slam champion Alcaraz, as he has sealed victory in two of his three matches against the young Spaniard.

The most recent of those triumphs was the most surprising of them all, as he beat Alacarz at the Miami Open in March, with Goffin giving Tennis365 an insight into his three wins against the defending Wimbledon champion as he competed at The Boodles exhibition event at Stoke Park.

He started by reflecting on his opening match against Alcaraz four years ago, when he admitted he didn’t know if he had been beaten by a young kid who had a lucky day or a superstar in the making.

“I remember the first match against him and it came during the pandemic in Melbourne the week before the Australian Open in 2021,” said Goffin. “I didn’t know him at the time, but I knew he was good and he had amazing potential.

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“We had no crowd that day, but all the Spanish players came out to see him and I was like ‘what is happening here, everyone wants to see him’.

“He went on to kill me in straight sets and I remember thinking he had just had the best day of his life, or he will be a very special player in the future. I guess we now know what happened next for him.”

After that chastening experience against a teenage Alcaraz in Melbourne, Goffin may have feared the next generation in the men’s game had too much firepower for him to contend with, yet his last two matches against the Spanish star ended in victory.

Goffin beat Alcaraz in straight sets in the Astana Open in 2022 before recording one of the shock wins of this year when he beat the then-four-time Grand Slam champion in a thrilling contest at the Miami Open and admits he may have “got lucky” in the timing of those matches.

“The other two times I played against him may have been at the right moment for me,” continued Goffin.

“In my second match against Alcaraz, he had just won his first Grand Slam title at the US Open and he was maybe a little bit tired towards the end.

“Then I beat him in Miami this year and I played an unbelievable match. It was his first match of the tournament and he was struggling a little with his confidence. That doesn’t appear to be the case any more!

“That’s why I say it was the right moment to beat him, but I also had to play great tennis to beat him.”

Goffin went on to suggest that Alcaraz is the complete player at the age of 22, as he heaped praise on the player who heads into Wimbledon as defending champion and favourite to retain his crown.

“He has everything,” added Goffin. “He has speed, great hands when he comes to the next and, of course, his groundstrokes are amazing. Especially his forehand. He is still young and has a great career in front of him.”

Alcaraz will be keen to get another crack at Goffin soon to ensure the Belgian does not head into tennis retirement with a record that suggests he had the magic formula to beat him.

READ NEXT: Carlos Alcaraz & US Open mixed doubles stars slammed for ’embarrassing’ comments by former No 1

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Rafael Nadal wasn’t initially adored by tennis fans as many preferred the “most loved player” Roger Federer, but things changed once Novak Djokovic arrived on the scene.

That is the view of former world No 6 Gilles Simon in a wide-ranging interview.

The Big Three of Djokovic, Nadal and Federer dominated men’s tennis for the best part of two decades as they shared 66 Grand Slams between them and set numerous other milestones along the way.

Federer initially led the way as he made his major breakthrough at Wimbledon in 2003, but his stranglehold was broken when Nadal arrived in 2005 with his French Open title and they formed the Big Two.

Djokovic – who won his first major at the 2008 Australian Open – then made it the Big Three and he eventually went on to broke several of Federer and Nadal’s records, including the Open Era Grand Slam record as he sits on 24 with Nadal on 22 and Federer 20.

But Djokovic has not always received the love and affection of Federer and Nadal as fans didn’t like the fact that he broke up the original Big Two.

In an interview with RG Media and CLAY, Simon says Nadal was also initially an outcast.

“Remember, Roger was the most loved player, maybe ever. And most fans didn’t like Rafa when he showed up,” the Frenchman said.

“But they started liking him more when Novak came on the scene. I’m 100% sure of it. Rafa became more appreciated once fans started comparing him to Novak instead of Roger.”

He added: “Novak was already better than most when he arrived, but he was still behind Roger and Rafa.

“I don’t think many people believed he’d surpass them — not even Roger and Rafa themselves. So when he started doing it, people didn’t like it. Everyone loved the Roger–Rafa rivalry. They didn’t want a third guy.”

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According to Simon, Djokovic has always been “true to himself” and his decision not to get vaccinated against COVID-19 proved that.

The Serbian was infamously deported from Australia in 2022 after he refused to get inoculated and he subsequently missed several other big events, including the 2023 US Open.

“He was the ‘villain’ early on, but here’s what I admire the most — he’s true to himself. For example, refusing the vaccine even if it meant giving up Slam records. He didn’t fake it,” the 14-time ATP Tour singles title winner said.

“In the beginning, he tried to please everyone, get more attention, and that came off as inauthentic. Eventually, he said: ‘This is who I am. I’m Novak Djokovic. Like me or not—I know who I am.’ That kind of stance earned him respect.”

The Frenchman feels the 24-time Grand Slam winner is finally getting the love he deserves, stating: “When he said he wanted to break Roger’s and Rafa’s records, people thought it was arrogant.

“But now that he’s done it — you have to tip your hat. He’s earned the respect, and now he’s even getting love from fans and the whole tennis world. That wasn’t there in the beginning.”

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