Serena Williams’ childhood coach Rick Macci believes Carlos Alcaraz, Holger Rune, Jannik Sinner, and Sebastian Korda will form the next ‘Big 4’ on the men’s tour

With praises for young gun Carlos Alcaraz, American coach Rick Macci reveals his Big 4 in men's tennis.

Serena Williams’ childhood coach Rick Macci believes Carlos Alcaraz, Holger Rune, Jannik Sinner, and Sebastian Korda will form the next ‘Big 4’ on the men’s tour

Sebastian Korda (left 1st), Carlos Alcaraz (left 2nd), Lorenzo Musetti (left 3rd), Jannik Sinner (left 4th) (Credits: The Independent, Wikipedia and Twitter/@janniksin)

In an exclusive interview with FirstSportz, Rick Macci, the childhood coach of former number one Serena Williams, revealed who he sees as the next big four of men’s tennis. Macci, who is also a former tennis player and has been the coach of great players like Andy Roddick, Jennifer Capriati, Maria Sharapova, and Venus Williams, talked about various aspects of new-age tennis. Including the highly anticipated Rafael Nadal return, the ongoing GOAT debate around Novak Djokovic, and rumors about him coaching American Coco Guaff.

When asked if he thinks Carlos Alcaraz, Holger Rune, Lorenzo Musetti, and Jannik Sinner could be the next big four of men’s tennis, Macci didn’t hesitate before saying an instant ‘yes’. He went on a spree of praise for Alcaraz, calling him a generational talent. Furthermore, he commended the 20-year-old’s skills, calling them artistic. He believes that the Spaniard is a mix of Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, and Andre Agassi.

YouTube video

He said, “Carlos Alcaraz is a generational talent. This is something the world of tennis has never seen. He is a combination of Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, and Agassi. He checked every box. he has artistic skills. He handles the racquet like a magician.”

FS Video

The American coach believes that along with Alcaraz, Rune and Sinner are going to be a part of the next Big 4. However, instead of Musetti, he named Sebastian Korda as a potential member of this group. Nevertheless, he firmly stated that even though these players are exceptional in their own way, there is no possibility that they can surpass Djokovic.

Continuing his train of thought, he further added, “Rune is going to be there. I think Korda is going to be there. Sinner will also be there. They can definitely form the next Big 4 but I definitely think Alcaraz is a little bit of a cut above. They will be the next Big 4 but there is a guy named Novak Djokovic. He’s the GOAT and he’s not going anywhere.”

Keep exploring: Laura Robson puts her FIRM trust in Elena Rybakina over her title defense at Wimbledon despite illness woes

Does Carlos Alcaraz’s No.1 seed at Wimbledon mark the beginning of a new era?

IMG COM 20230629 1841 04 6781
Carlos Alcaraz (Credits: The Japan Times)

Carlos Alcaraz is an extraordinary talent in the world of tennis, unlike anything seen before, and his No. 1 seed at Wimbledon has indeed marked the beginning of a new era. Although the Spaniard didn’t participate in the Australian Open due to a hamstring injury, his performance otherwise was exceptional in the early hard-court season. That’s not all; he even bagged the Argentina Open by defeating British player Cameron Norrie in straight sets.

 A month later, he won the Indian Wells Masters by defeating former World No. 1 and Russian maestro Daniil Medvedev. He then went on to win the Barcelona Open and the Madrid Open. Recently, on the grass court, he won the Queen’s Club Championship.

As per Rick Macci, what sets Alcaraz apart is his unwavering mental strength. He thrives under pressure and embraces the challenges on the court. Even after losing a long rally, he maintains a positive attitude and enjoys the game.

“Tennis is a game of inches. From one year to another, mentally, the guy eats pressure for breakfast. He’ll lose a 20-ball rally and smile. He just enjoys being on that tennis court. That’s what separates great from good,” said Macci in the interview.

Tennis has seen numerous eras defined by dominant players who reshape the sport, such as the eras of Rod Laver, Bjorn Borg, Pete Sampras, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic. With that being said, there is no denying the fact that up-and-coming talents signify a shift in the sport’s landscape.

In case you missed it: