Carlos Alcaraz 'could be the next Novak Djokovic for all we know,' says Mats Wilander after Spaniard's French Open win

Updated 09/06/2024 at 20:05 GMT

Eurosport tennis experts Mats Wilander and Tim Henman heaped praise on new French Open champion Carlos Alcaraz after his thrilling five-set victory over Alexander Zverev on Sunday evening. The Spaniard came back to win 6-3 2-6 5-7 6-1 6-42and add the Roland-Garros crown to his US Open and Wimbledon victories. Wilander said that tennis needs Alcaraz "more than anything."

French Open highlights - Alcaraz wins first Roland-Garros title after Zverev epic

Carlos Alcaraz "could be the next Novak Djokovic for all we know," according to Eurosport's Mats Wilander.

The Spaniard came from two sets to one down against Alexander Zverev to dominate the final two sets and take his first French Open crown.

It was a compelling five-set victory over Zverev, 6-3 2-6 5-7 6-1 6-2, in over four hours of action on Court Philippe-Chatrier.

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Alcaraz now adds the Roland-Garros title to his US Open and Wimbledon victories.

The 21-year-old is outperforming his peers with immense physicality at such a young age, and Wilander recognised the potential that the young champion has.

"I think Zverev became a little bit passive to be honest, I think he allowed Carlitos to play his game a little bit too much.

"But at the same time, we're looking at a multiple, multiple Grand Slam champion. This could be next Novak Djokovic for all we know."

Alcaraz 'could be the next Djokovic for all we know' - Wilander

Wilander added: "We need Carlos Alcaraz more than anything in our sport right now.

"And I think for him to be relevant, I think he needs to keep winning maybe one major every year. If he does that, he’s gonna stay relevant and he’s gonna change our sport in many ways, the way that people look at tennis because he’s such a breath of fresh air. He’s smiling, he’s humble - his speech was great, so this is great for professional tennis.

"Of course, would be nice to see Sascha Zverev, a new face, win a Slam but it’s gonna be tough to catch Carlos now that he can win when he’s not playing his best against the best players in the world."

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His Roland-Garros win is his third Grand Slam and on multiple surfaces at that, displaying an incredible mentality and confidence throughout all of them.

Zverev got the better of him in sets two and three and managed to quell his aggression, particularly when he had the wind behind him.

"What you don’t see at home on TV is the wind, the wind on Phillipe Chatrier," Wilander added. "Out of the first nine games, eight games were won from the side that Sascha Zverev is playing from right now. So that hold into the wind for Alcaraz was absolutely incredible.

"This is where I thought ‘You might have made a mistake here Carlitos, maybe you shouldn’t have run for all those.’ But obviously, at deuce, 1-1, you’ve got to give it all. But he came back from that, he took a quick look at his player’s box and said ‘I got it’."

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Speaking on Eurosport after the final alongside Wilander, Tim Henman praised the French Open champion's positivity and the atmosphere he and his coaching team create.

Henman said: "There’s very little negativity.

"The only time he was negative was when he complained about the court at the end of the third set I think it was, where he said ‘This is like a hard court,’ and it is, it’s pretty dusty out here, but again, once he gets that positive mindset, there’s a very good camaraderie, connection with the box, with his coach Juan Carlos Ferrero.

"And down two sets to one you’re thinking ‘Well this is going to be difficult’ but the way he responded to dominate proceedings, it’s a phenomenal effort.

"And he’s 21 years of age, it’s staggering to be producing this level of tennis, the physicality but also the mentality."

Alcaraz will now surely have his sights set on Wimbledon in July, when he could win back-to-back titles in SW19.

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