Whoever makes assertions and predictions in a YouTube video had previously launched the career of the Williams sisters and had promoted figures such as Maria Sharapova, Jennifer Capriati or Andy Roddick.
It is Rick Macci, a prestigious American coach who, at 67, is still at the foot of the canyon at his school in Haines City (Florida).
There he continues to mold emerging talents, but none today on the men's circuit like Carlos Alcaraz, to whom he refers thus: "I have seen many players come and go, many with great potential, Federer, Nadal and Djokovic when they were young … But in the last 30 years I had never seen someone like him.
It's the whole lot.
If he doesn't suffer a major injury, he will be the best ever.
I know that seems like an unconscionable statement because he hasn't even won a Grand Slam yet,
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Macci's voice follows the stream of others who assure that tennis is facing an extraordinary phenomenon.
Alcaraz, who this Wednesday will open the clay court tour at the Monte Carlo Masters 1000 against Sebastian Korda, after having conquered Miami and continuing to dazzle, will turn 19 on May 5.
In his brief career in the elite he has lifted three trophies –Umag (250 category), Rio de Janeiro (500) and the one achieved last day 3 at the Hard Rock Stadium–, he has managed to progress to the quarterfinals of a major (US Open 2021) and in the blink of an eye he has risen to the eleventh step of the world list, beating important players along the way and pushing Nadal to the limit in a duel in which the Spaniard ended up hurting his ribs from the effort.
So far, he has 51 wins.
Nadal poses with the Roland Garros champion trophy in 2005. LIONEL CIRONNEAU (AP)
Unanimously and internationally designated, the Murcian – whose figures are conditioned by the 2020 break due to the pandemic – is considered the next link in the chain of the chosen ones.
But what had those figures who left their mark on the history of modern tennis done at 19?
How high is the bar?
Along the lines of Djokovic, but better.
Before taking the real highlight of him, the current number one recorded similar achievements to those of Alcaraz so far.
In his second year as a professional, the Serbian had signed a quarter at Roland Garros and the eighth at Wimbledon, and had held a couple of titles in Metz and Armersfoort (250 category).
He then had 53 wins and finished the 2006 season in 16th place in the
ranking
.
Federer, in 2002 during a match against Hewitt in Shanghai.
/AP
Federer and Lendl, slow-burn takeoffs.
The Swiss resisted the first ramps in the elite.
At 19 he had already reached the second round of a major (Roland Garros), but the first professional trophy was delayed until 2001 (Milan) and the first
major
(Wimbledon) until 2003. His limit was marked by the finals in Basel and Marseille, and in his locker there were 51 wins.
He closed that 2000 in the 64th position.
Meanwhile, the Czech (nationalized American) had reached the same level in Paris and had not celebrated any title either.
He sealed 1979 with 47 wins and 21st, and from 1984 he began to reap big.
Borg and Nadal, two eaters.
The Swede made his way through success and precocity.
In 1975, the year he finished third on the qualifying podium, he had already won Roland Garros twice, in addition to the Rome and Boston Grand Prix (2).
To those awards he added eight more trophies and a string of victories (242) incomparable at his age.
The Spaniard followed in his footsteps and at 19 he raised his first title in the Bois de Boulogne, as well as advancing to the round of 16 in Australia.
He has already become strong in the territory of the Masters 1000 (Monte Carlo, Rome, Canada and Madrid) and also in the 500 (Acapulco, Barcelona and Stuttgart).
He had also crimped Costa do Sauípe, Bastad and Beijing, and in 2004 he gave the first bite of it in Sopot;
however, his true letter of introduction came in the Davis Cup at La Cartuja.
Boris Becker, in a 1996 match at Wimbledon.
/REUTERS
Wilander is exposed and Becker takes London.
In the early eighties, the Nordic was uncovered.
His first blow came at Roland Garros and the following year, 1983, he became the youngest champion of the Australian Open, at the age of 19 years and 4 months.
At the end of that course he had another 11 trophies – including Barcelona, Cincinnati and Monte Carlo – and added 156 wins, threatening from fourth position.
The blond German would break into 1985 like a shot and both that year and the next he took over Wimbledon;
he also did it as the earliest winner, at 17 years and 7 months.
His explosion led him to play the Masters final twice and win seven more titles, with 137 wins and second in the ATP.
Edberg and Sampras, much more than stylists.
The exquisite Swede won the Australian Open in 1985 and finished that year with four more awards (Milan, Memphis, San Francisco and Basel), 104 wins and fifth in the
ranking
.
Five years later another stylish player would burst like lightning, but with an American stamp.
At the age of 19 years and 1 month, Sampras made history at the US Open – there is no younger male winner yet – and added Philadelphia, Manchester and the Grand Slam Cup to his record. He was fifth and on his record there were 79 wins at that point.
Agassi and Connors, in 1994 before an exhibition match in Las Vegas.
/REUTERS
McEnroe and Agassi, from rebel to rebel.
At Alcaraz's age, the charismatic
Big Mac
had not yet raised any major, but he had won the 1978 Masters Cup and four more awards in Hartford, San Francisco, Stockholm and Wembley.
He had 108 victories and settled in 5th place.
He picked up the witness his compatriot, who in 1989 had already entered the semifinals in New York and celebrated two 1000: Canada and Paris.
He also celebrated in more discreet settings such as Itaparica, Memphis, Charleston, Forest Hills, Stuttgart, Stratton, Livingston and Orlando.
Behind him he already had 135 victories and was on the seventh step.
More information
Carlos Alcaraz, a countercultural prodigy
Connors, the latest explosion.
Among all the great figures, the North American is the one who made us wait the most.
In 1971, his best at a major was the second round of the US Open and he had only won 28 times.
Later, at the age of 22, he would open the champagne in style: Australia, Wimbledon and New York in the same season (1974).
Although he was not so precocious, he defends today the record of victories: 1,274 throughout a 24-year career.
Behind is Federer today, with 1,251.
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