Annacone says Carlos Alcaraz is “the most complete 19-year-old men’s player”

The 19-year-old Spaniard won the Indian Wells title to reclaim the world No 1 ranking

Carlos Alcaraz at the 2023 BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells

Carlos Alcaraz during the 2023 BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, CA. Image Credit: Icon SMI / Panoramic

March 21, 2023

Paul Annacone, former player and super coach, opines that current men’s world No 1 Carlos Alcaraz, who just won the Indian Wells Masters on Sunday, is the most complete 19-year-old player according to him.

Annacone comes with a lot of credibility in the tennis world. A former top 3 player in doubles with a Grand Slam title to his name and a top 15 player in singles, the 60-year-old American has achieved even greater success as a coach – guiding legends of the modern game Pete Sampras and Roger Federer to multiple Grand Slams.

Now working with American No 1 Taylor Fritz and working as an analyst for Tennis Channel, Annacone’s words hold a lot of weight and he was full of praise for the reigning US Open men’s champion.

“I think he’s a lot more like Roger (Federer) than Rafa (Nadal),” said Annacone in an interview to the New York Times. “Because Rafa couldn’t take the ball early like this when he was 19, and Rafa couldn’t come forward like this. Roger could always stay on the baseline and always look like he had time, and that’s how this kid looks.”

Annacone says Alcaraz is “the most complete 19-year-old men’s player” he has seen, describing the Spaniard as someone who “can do everything.

“The interesting thing for me is watching someone who is this athletically talented with his running, jumping, explosiveness and flexibility, but also has the hand-eye coordination to be able to take the ball early on the rise, come forward and volley. He also can back up and change pace. He can do everything,” Annacone added.

Alcaraz heads to the Miami Open Masters this week and the Spaniard will be aiming to join the select group of players (seven men and three women) to win complete the Indian Wells and Miami doubles in the same year.

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