Carlos Alcaraz’s rivals are already conscious that he's “stopping” them from progressing to the subsequent stage on the largest tournaments. Taylor Fritz admitted that among the youthful gamers waited years for the likes of Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer to maneuver out of the best way only for the 20-year-old to turn out to be a pressure at Grand Slams.

Alcaraz has cemented himself as among the best gamers on the earth in a brief house of time. Aged simply 20, he already has two Grand Slam titles to his title and have become the youngest world No 1 in ATP historical past final yr.

But the Spaniard’s sudden rise has been tough for a few of his friends, who thought that they'd be dwelling free when the Big Three finally retired. As properly as gamers like Alexander Zverev and Stefanos Tsitsipas - who have been initially touted as the subsequent massive issues in tennis - Taylor Fritz has been making massive strides however now sees Alcaraz as a brand new roadblock similar to Nadal and Federer have been.

The world No 9 defeated Nadal to win Indian Wells final yr, ending the 37-year-old’s 20-match profitable streak on the time - a victory that was important provided that Fritz knew it will all the time be powerful towards the Big Four. “That day is my best tennis memory. And, I mean, it might always be,” the American advised Esquire.

Click here to join our WhatsApp community to be the first to receive breaking and exclusive tennis news

“I always thought, When you run into Nadal, or Federer, Djokovic, or [Andy] Murray, you’re in trouble. We’ve just been waiting for them to move out of the way.” With Federer now retired, Nadal seemingly midway there and Murray not on the prime of the game, Fritz mentioned Alcaraz had turn out to be the participant stopping everybody else from progressing on the Majors.

He continued: “Now, we have this next wave coming in, and it’s motivating. But, there’s Alcaraz. I think Alcaraz is going to be the main person that’s stopping us from winning Slams.”

So far, Alcaraz has already confirmed Fritz proper. The Spaniard at the moment has a greater report on the Majors than each participant born within the Nineteen Nineties, as Dominic Thiem and Daniil Medvedev are the one gamers born within the decade to win one Grand Slam title every. 

Djokovic has to date been the one man to cease Alcaraz at Grand Slam stage this yr, because the Spaniard misplaced their semi-final encounter on the French Open when he began struggling with cramps. The world No 1 missed the Australian Open via damage and he received Wimbledon final month, beating the Serb in an exhilarating five-set remaining.