Carlos Alcaraz through the eyes of Andre Agassi, Patrick Rafter: He's like a combination of the Big Three

No 1 Club

Alcaraz through the eyes of Agassi, Rafter: He's like a combination of the Big Three

ATP No. 1 Club members share thoughts on Spaniard

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Carlos Alcaraz receives the 2025 Roland Garros trophy, the Coupe des Mousquetaires, from Andre Agassi. By ATP Staff

Explosive firepower, seamless movement and echoes of the ‘Big Three’ — Carlos Alcaraz has impressed Andre Agassi and Patrick Rafter, two ATP No. 1 Club members who know what it takes to reach the top of the PIF ATP Rankings.

Speaking ahead of the Laver Cup, Team World captain Agassi marveled at how Alcaraz has captured the hearts of fans worldwide while blending qualities from the likes of Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.

“There’s not a place in the world where he goes and he’s not the crowd favourite,” Agassi said, speaking exclusively with ATPTour.com. “And for obvious reasons. What he’s brought to the game is a mixture of the last generation we had.

“I know Novak is still playing, but Novak, Roger and Rafa — he’s like a combination of all of them in one, with the RPMs he can put [on the ball], the defence that he has like Novak, the feel that he has like Federer. To see that in one person on a tennis court is remarkable.”

Agassi spent 101 total weeks atop the PIF ATP Rankings, ninth-most all time. Alcaraz, 22, is already more than a third of the way there. The Spaniard reclaimed No. 1 honours following his sixth major title at the US Open this month. Now in his fifth stint as World No. 1, Alcaraz has held the top spot for a total of 38 weeks.

Alcaraz first rose to No. 1 in 2022, when he won the US Open, which came with a double prize. Alcaraz became the youngest No. 1 (19 years, four months) in PIF ATP Rankings history.

Rafter, who is vice captain for Team World, rose to World No. 1 for a single week in 1999 and remains the only ATP No. 1 Club member to never play a match while holding the position. An 11-time tour-level titlist, Rafter is impressed by Alcaraz’s all-around repertoire.

“He can produce power from anywhere and no one has that power,” Rafter said. “He’s probably one of the greatest movers we’ve ever seen in the game of tennis. That combination is pretty impressive, plus he's got all the shots.”

Agassi and Rafter will have an up-close look at Alcaraz this weekend when they guide Team World against Team Europe, which features the World No. 1.

“[He is] one of the most explosive, dynamic players that the game has ever seen,” Agassi said. “I’ve seen him play live a few times, but to be down there on the court next to it will be something special.”

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