Bjorn Borg backs Carlos Alcaraz to surpass Rafael Nadal’s Grand Slam record

Carlos Alcaraz has a long way to go to achieve what 22-time Major champion Rafael Nadal has done in his legendary career.

Bjorn Borg backs Carlos Alcaraz to surpass Rafael Nadal’s Grand Slam record

Rafael Nadal, Carlos Alcaraz, Bjorn Borg (Image via X/Carlos Alcaraz, Clay)

Carlos Alcaraz is in Barcelona and is playing in his first cay-court ATP 500 event of the season. During the tournament, 11-time Major winner Bjorn Borg expressed his hope to see Alcaraz achieve what Rafael Nadal has done.

The World No.2 so far has lifted four Grand Slam titles at 21, while Nadal called time on his career at the 2024 Davis Cup after lifting 22 Majors. Last year, he completed the Channel Slam, lifting his career’s first French Open and his second consecutive Wimbledon title. This year at the Australian Open, however, the Murcia native was eliminated by 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic.

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I think he wants to achieve what Rafa did… he’s an unbelievable player. He’s still very young. I think he will win more Slams. He has the right mentality. He can play on any kind of surface. And he’s been No.1, he’s top and…I hope at least, this year, he wins at least one Grand Slam.

Bjorn Borg told TenisRTVE

Alcaraz, following his career’s first Grand Slam title at the 2022 US Open, became the youngest player (19) in the history of ATP to become the World No.1. The following season, he lifted his first Wimbledon title by denying Djokovic a historic Calendar Slam. Alcaraz still has a chance to become the youngest player to complete the Career Grand Slam if he lifts next year’s Australian Open.

Carlos Alcaraz admits he couldn’t rest after winning the Monte Caro Masters

At the Barcelona Open, Carlos Alcaraz started the campaign with a 6-2, 7-6(6) win against America’s Ethan Quinn and took a 1-0 head-to-head lead. Before arriving in Barcelona, Alcaraz ended the Monte Carlo Masters in his favor, winning his first title in The Principality with a 3-6, 6-1, 6-0 victory over Lorenzo Musetti.

Carlos Alcaraz
Carlos Alcaraz (Image via @alcarchive)

The final was held on Sunday (April 13) and Alcaraz played his first match in his home tournament on April 15. Following the match, Alcaraz said he couldn’t rest at all because of the hectic schedule.

Clay season is short and really intense; it’s week after week, and you have to give 100% in every match and every tournament. Just two days ago I was in Monte-Carlo playing a final and I had to fly yesterday and had a practice just to feel how it is, you know, playing here in Barcelona is different conditions. So I couldn’t rest at all, so that’s why conserving energy is really important right now.

Carlos Alcaraz said at the press conference

Alcaraz has time and again criticized the tennis schedule and blamed it for the different types of injuries the players suffer. He said that players don’t get enough practice time between tournaments, and the schedule also doesn’t allow them to take a much-needed rest, hence impacting their overall performance.

Carlos Alcaraz bidding to win his third title of the season at the Barcelona Open

So far in the season, Carlos Alcaraz took home two titles, in Rotterdam and Monte Carlo. The victory in Rotterdam was his first title in an indoor hard court.

Carlos Alcaraz (3)
Carlos Alcaraz (Image via X/alcarchive)

Alcaraz will be bidding to win his third title of the season in Barcelona as well as his third trophy of the tournament. He had emerged victorious in 2022 and 2023 and skipped the last edition due to an injury.

The first seed in Barcelona will next lock horns with qualifier Laslo Djere, who knocked out Arthur Rinderknech in three sets to set up the second-round clash with the Spaniard. Alcaraz holds a 1-0 head-to-head lead over the Serbian ace after coming out on top of him in the fourth round of the 2023 Argentina Open.