Andy Roddick describes Carlos Alcaraz as an 'animal' after win over Stefanos Tsitsipas at Miami Open

Updated 30/03/2022 at 16:10 GMT

Former world No. 1 Andy Roddick has described Spanish teen sensation Carlos Alcaraz as an "animal" after he stunned Stefanos Tsitsipas in the Miami Open round of 16. Alcaraz has drawn praise from far and wide for his performances in 2022, but his shot-making and movement against the Greek showcased a new level of brilliance, moving Roddick to also label him as "the real deal".

Highlights: Alcaraz overcomes Tsitsipas to reach quarter-finals in Miami Open

Andy Roddick labelled 18-year-old Carlos Alcaraz as an "animal" after his stunning win over Stefanos Tsitsipas in the Miami Open.

Alcaraz, who described the match as "really, really tough", turned in one of the most memorable displays of 2022 so far to down the Greek, coming back from 2-5 down in the first set and pulling off a contender for shot of the season with a remarkable tweener lob.

And Roddick - a former world No.1 and US Open champion in 2003 - was moved to wax lyrical about the precocious Spaniard.

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"This guy moves like it's unbelievable," Roddick told the Tennis Channel.

"People normally have to grow into their movement a little bit and he doesn't need much time to fire the forehand. Most of the guys with huge forehands need two feet under them to give it a ride. This guy can turn on it real quick, almost like Andre Agassi used to.

"You would hit a big ball to him and it would come back just as fast.

"This guy is no joke. He's the real deal and I don't know that this [the win over Tsitsipas] is an upset.

"I don't know that we've seen someone this young, who you kind of expect to win matches like this often. This guy is an animal."

Alcaraz, who will play Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic in the quarter-finals, has already won titles in Umag and Rio in the past year and will be searching for a third title at Hard Rock Stadium as his breakout on the ATP Tour goes from strength to strength.

Kecmanovic sprung a surprise by beating Indian Wells champion Taylor Fritz in his round of 16 match.

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