Carlos Alcaraz: Mats Wilander says world No. 1 is 'so important for our sport' after Wimbledon first-round win
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Published 04/07/2023 at 15:30 GMT
Carlos Alcaraz looked in fine form as he started his Wimbledon campaign with a straight-sets victory over Jeremy Chardy. The 20-year-old has his sights on meeting Novak Djokovic in the final of the Grand Slam. Eurosport expert Mats Wilander was impressed with Alcaraz's display and said he plays "so many unbelievable points that you don’t see other players play".
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Mats Wilander has hailed Carlos Alcaraz as “so important for our sport” after watching him power his way past Jeremy Chardy in the first round of Wimbledon.
The 20-year-old has taken tennis by storm over the last 18 months, winning his first Grand Slam title and getting to world No. 1.
Not only has he collected plenty of silverware, but his electrifying brand of tennis has wowed crowds.
His firepower and speed was far too much for Chardy as Alcaraz won in straight sets to advance to the second round.
Eurosport expert Wilander says Alcaraz is unlike anybody he has seen before.
“He’s so easy to like when he doesn’t have a racquet in his hand and then you put a racquet in his hand and he starts moving and you hear the crowd.
“I have never seen a tennis player that gets the reaction from a crowd during a point as much as Carlos Alcaraz. Of course Roger Federer at times when he comes up with tweeners or whatever, but you get so engaged with Alcaraz when you are watching him and he plays so many unbelievable points that you don’t see other players play.
“Then you add the speed, he can defend and hit the ball harder than anyone. He plays smart, he smiles during matches. I love him, he’s so important for our sport.”
Alcaraz will face Alexandre Muller or Arthur Rinderknech as he looks to set up a final against Novak Djokovic that he says he “really wants”.
The world No. 1 blitzed through the first two sets against Chardy but faced more resistance in the third set and had to come from a break down to win.
“In the third set it felt like Carlos was mixing things up even more than he usually would just to try a few things,” said Eurosport expert Laura Robson.
“He was up two sets to love and it was the opportunity to try something different.”
Alcaraz made it to the fourth round on his second appearance at Wimbledon last year.
Speaking in his on-court interview, he said: “I think I played really well at the beginning of the match.
“In the third set, he found his level. I was in trouble, but I like to play rallies, I like to play battles, and I’m really happy to have played a great level. Both of us in the third set. It was really close, but I’m really happy to get through this first round.”
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Stream daily highlights from Wimbledon at 10pm UK time, as well as the two singles finals live on July 15 and 16, on discovery+, the Eurosport app and at eurosport.com
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