Former Grand Slam finalist Alex Corretja calls Carlos Alcaraz 'a gift to tennis'

Corretja hailed the 22-year-old Spaniard as "a gift to tennis and drew comparisons between Alcaraz and his own childhood idol, Rafael Nadal, whom Alcaraz grew up admiring.

"It's a blessing to have a player like Carlos Alcaraz. He is truly a gift to the sport," Corretja told Bolavip.

"It is nearly a miracle to be honest. We have had so many great players in the past, but after Rafael Nadal, our legend of the sport, all of a sudden we have Carlos who is comparable.

"He is winning Grand Slams, he is the world No. 1. It is something very unexpected and very fortunate for us to have him."

Alcaraz's latest triumph came just eight days ago when he defeated Jannik Sinner to claim the US Open title, his sixth Grand Slam victory.

The win not only reinforced his place among the sport's elite but also returned him to the world No. 1 ranking for the first time in over a year. As of Monday, Alcaraz began his 38th week as the top-ranked player in the world.

With a total of 23 career titles, Alcaraz is tantalisingly close to completing a Career Grand Slam, needing only an Australian Open triumph to achieve the feat.

His combination of power, agility, and composure has drawn admiration from peers and legends alike, and Corretja's endorsement only adds to the growing chorus recognising his extraordinary talent. 

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