Rick Macci backs Carlos Alcaraz for tennis greatness – ‘He is a combination of Federer, Nadal, Djokovic and Agassi’

Renowned American tennis coach Rick Macci has showered Carlos Alcaraz with praise, describing the Spaniard as a combination of four of the best players in the history of the sport.

Nevertheless, Macci, a former coach to both Serena and Venus Williams, believes Alcaraz is a talent like no other and tipped him to win “a bucket of Grand Slams” during his career.

“He is a combination of, I tell everybody, [Roger] Federer, [Rafael] Nadal, Djokovic and [Andre] Agassi, all wrapped in one.

“He has make-up speed like no other. Once he hits that other gear his turbo speed is amazing.

“He has a drop shot from outer space. He has missed more drop shots as a kid than anybody who has played tennis because he has tried more – and whoever coached him as a kid would not discourage that.

“I think he is going to get such a bucket of Grand Slams, it’s unreal. I feel, in my opinion, he is by far, the leader in the clubhouse.”

Similar comparisons were drawn after Alcaraz downed Djokovic in this year’s epic Wimbledon final. But he has since lost twice to the Serbian, first in the Cincinnati Masters final and then in the semi-finals of the season-ending showdown in Turin.

“Right now I know all the things I have to improve if I want to be there, if I want to beat the best player in the world,” Alcaraz said.

“With Juan Carlos [Ferrero], we have to talk about the pre-season, what we have to practice, what we have to do. Obviously, I’ll rewatch the match to see my weakness, just to improve it and be a better player.

“I will forget all the matches that I played against him, the Wimbledon final, the Cincinnati, Roland Garros, and I’m going to focus on this match because I felt like I have to improve a lot of things if I want to stay at his level.”