Carlos Alcaraz is looking to find his form again at the Monte Carlo Masters next week after an early exit in Miami.
The Spaniard started the season in dominant fashion, putting together a 16-match winning streak.
This run saw him complete the ‘Career Grand Slam’ at the Australian Open and later claim another title at the Qatar Open.
However, since then, he has lost back-to-back matches to Daniil Medvedev in Indian Wells and Sebastian Korda in Miami.
Despite these setbacks, Alcaraz is still seen as one of the top players on tour and is widely expected to have a historic career.
That opinion is shared by Rick Macci, who previously coached Serena Williams.
Rick Macci backs Carlos Alcaraz to rival Djokovic’s Grand Slam Haul
Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images
Novak Djokovic stands as the most decorated male player in history. With 24 majors to his name, he shares the record for most Grand Slam singles titles with Margaret Court.
The former Andy Roddick and Maria Sharapova coach certainly thinks it’s possible.
Alcaraz has already picked up seven majors by the age of 22. In comparison, Djokovic had just one before turning 23.
Macci posted on X, saying: “Another major league reason the Spanish Magician is skyrocketing towards RARE AIR is his adaptability to play on every surface.”
“His best surface is the one he is playing on. This is RARE. This is why Carlos barring injury will someday be a double digit slam stroker and be right there with the Joker.”
Following his loss to Korda in Miami, Alcaraz headed back to Murcia to start training for clay season.
The Spaniard has been working alongside young Spanish talent Martin Landaluce as he gets ready for Monte Carlo, where he’ll be seeded first.
Looking back at Carlos Alcaraz’s history in Monte Carlo
Alcaraz has only played the event twice, with his first appearance coming back in 2022.
Alcaraz was seeded eighth and received a bye through to the second round.
Korda ended up winning the match 6-7, 7-6, 3-6. Stefanos Tsitsipas later went on to claim the title, defeating Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the final.
Three years later, Alcaraz returned to Monaco. He went on to win his first Monte Carlo title last year, defeating Lorenzo Musetti 3-6, 6-1, 6-0 in the final.
Speaking after his victory over Musetti at the time, Alcaraz told reporters: “Well, I think today was about who is going to or who was going to deal with the nerves much better, the pressure. He played his first Masters 1000 final, a huge moment for him. For me as well because as I say it was a difficult month for me. And being in a final I just put pressure on myself. There were a lot of nerves.”
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