Carlos Alcaraz called the COMBINATION of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi by former footballer Gary Lineker

Carlos Alcaraz‘s performance at Wimbledon has received considerable acclaim, and his popularity goes beyond the tennis world. Former footballer Gary Lineker expressed his admiration on Twitter by comparing the young Spaniard’s abilities to those of football giants Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

After defeating childhood friend Holger Rune in the quarterfinal match, Alcaraz received praise from all over the internet, especially from Lineker and former tennis player Mats Wilander. Lineker, who was also the match of the day presenter, tweeted, “What a talent Carlos Alcaraz is. He looks and moves like a footballer, with the power and pace of a Ronaldo, mixed with the deftness of touch and feel of a Messi, but with a racquet.”

Responding to Lineker’s comments during Eurosport‘s Wimbledon coverage, Wilander agreed with the analysis but brought up an important point that was neglected. While appreciating Alcaraz’s football-like qualities, Wilander emphasized the Spaniard’s infectious smile that emanates from the Centre Court. “When there’s pressure, he’s still out there having a great time, and you can see he’s having a great time because he’s smiling,” Wilander said.

As per Wilander, no footballer has the ability to make the crowd smile like Alcaraz. He even went on to say that even tennis greats like Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic cannot enjoy and smile like the 20-year-old when under great pressure. “That is so new. Not even the great Roger Federer did that. Rafa certainly not; Novak once in a while, but not in the same way,” commented the former tennis player.

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Carlos Alcaraz Wimbledon 2023 journey so far

Entering the tournament as the top-seeded player, Alcaraz has finally cleared his spot for the semifinals. This is the first time the Spaniard has reached the semi-final of this grass-court Slam. His journey to this point has been rather easy for him.

With explosive groundstrokes and impressive court coverage, he showcases remarkable athleticism. His exceptional shot-making ability, combined with precise touch and creativity, sets him apart from the rest. The first and second rounds were swiftly qualified by him, as he defeated his opponents in straight sets.

The third-round match, against Nicolas Jarry, ended in 4 sets, with the second set being a tiebreaker won by Jarry. The fourth-round match was a bit difficult as the Spaniard had to face Italian player Matteo Berrettini. The Italian started as a dominating power, winning the first set, but eventually, Alcaraz took over quickly, winning consecutive three sets.

He is set to face Russian player Daniil Medvedev today to seal a spot in the final of this prestigious tournament.

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