Google News Marion Bartoli doubts Carlos Alcaraz can reach idol Rafael Nadal's Grand Slam heights
by DZEVAD MESIC | VIEW 4804
2013 Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli doubts that Carlos Alcaraz or anyone else can replicate the Big Three and reach the 20-Grand Slams mark. Rafael Nadal owns a record 22 Grand Slams, Novak Djokovic is second with 21 Majors, while Roger Federer has 20 in his collection.
Alcaraz, 19, became a Grand Slam champion after winning this past US Open. Alcaraz is widely tipped to win multiple Grand Slams, but Bartoli thinks it's probably unrealistic to expect the Spaniard to win 19 more Majors.
“I think there is absolutely zero chance that anyone ever – not only Carlos Alcaraz – will reach the bar of 20 or more [Grand Slams. I think what the three guys have been achieving over those years is out of normality and I don’t think anyone can replicate it.
Carlos’ achievement at the US Open was amazing, but I don’t think it’s realistic to set the bar for him at 20 and over," Bartoli said on the latest episode of Tennis Majors' "Match Points."
BartolI: Jannik Sinner can compete with Alcaraz
Sinner, 21, is someone Bartoli believes could become the next Grand Slam champion in the men's game.
“He has the game, he hits the ball so hard, he’s beaten Alcaraz already twice, he’s right there in terms of level,” Bartoli said of Sinner. “It’s just for him mentally to get a little tougher and a bit less nice on court.
You feel he’s a nice kid and you need to have a mean spirit and a fire inside to go for a Grand Slam”. Also, Bartoli feels that the likes of Alexander Zverev and Stefanos Tsitsipas can't be underestimated going forward.
“I think we will have three, four maybe other names that absolutely will be in quarter-finals moving forward,” Bartoli added. It remains to be seen how will the men's game look after the Big Three are all officially gone.
