Tennis legend Bjorn Borg has shared his thoughts on the ever-growing career of Carlos Alcaraz, suggesting the young Spaniard could equal — or even surpass — the remarkable achievements of his compatriot Rafael Nadal.
Speaking to RTVE at the Barcelona Open, Borg was full of praise for the 21-year-old Alcaraz, who already has four Grand Slam titles to his name: the 2022 US Open, Wimbledon in 2023 and 2024, and the 2024 French Open.
“I believe Alcaraz will achieve the same or more than Nadal,” said the 11-time major winner. “He has the right mentality and can play on all surfaces. With a bit of luck, he will be the king of tennis.”
Alcaraz recently claimed his sixth Masters 1000 title by winning the Monte Carlo Masters, pushing his total ATP title count to 18. He also made headlines by playing doubles alongside Nadal at the Paris 2024 Olympics, a symbolic passing of the torch between generations of Spanish greats.
If Alcaraz wins an Australian Open title in the next two years, he would become the youngest male player in the Open Era to complete a Career Grand Slam — a record currently held by Nadal, who achieved it at age 24.
However, not everyone is convinced such a feat is likely. Fernando Verdasco, former World No. 7, expressed skepticism earlier this year, saying:
“Winning 22 majors is almost impossible. You’d need to win two or three every year — injuries or any physical issues can make that extremely difficult.”
Alcaraz is currently competing at the Barcelona Open, where he is aiming for a third consecutive title after triumphs in 2022 and 2023. He’s also in a tight race with Alexander Zverev for the World No. 2 ranking heading into the French Open.
