Few sports match the levels of fitness and one on one competitions that we often see at the highest level of tennis. Over the last 15 years, we have been treated to a golden age of tennis. Not only do the three usual suspects and crossover stars of the sport deserve a special mention, but even the players that were hot on their heels and managed to pick up a few grand slams on the way, such as Andy Murray.

As the new guard rolls into town, avid and casual tennis fans want to crown a new King of tennis. Although plenty of debate surrounds who was the better player out of Djokovic, Federer, or Nadal, and you can make a solid case for any, the latest generation looks like it will have one player that will stand out from the rest – Carlos Alcaraz.

You know, many risk-takers like having different adventures, others prefer live casino games, while another group of people would wait for the right moment to make betting on newcomers in sports. If you belong to the latter group, then keep an eye on Alcaraz. Looking at some of the sports betting odds, Carlos Alcaraz now sits in and amongst the betting favorites irrespective of the tournament he is in, despite the fact he is still a teenager.

Carlos Alcaraz – Humble Beginnings

There was a key focus on Alcaraz, given that he heralds from the same nation as one of the greatest players of the previous generation and one of the finest players to ever hold a racket – Rafael Nadal.

Although much has been made of a perceived rivalry between the pair, Nadal has had nothing but admiration and respect for the rise of the young Spaniard. Nevertheless, Nadal is a serious competitor, and he may harbor slight resentment at the fact Alcaraz is already beating his records before he has even reached the age of 20.

Nevertheless, Alcaraz seems a grounded and consummate professional. Born in May 2003 in Spain, Alcaraz’s precocious ability was noticed almost immediately. The fact he is already doing so well indicates he will be at the top of the sport for a long time.

 

A Rise Through the Professional Ranks

By the age of 16, he was qualifying for senior tournaments. One year later, he became the youngest senior player to reach a grand slam when he qualified for the Australian Open. Then, when he won the Madrid Open just a few weeks before he turned 19, he started on his journey to beat previous records set by Rafael Nadal. This lit the flame for a phenomenal rise in the men’s senior rankings in 2021. It is widely known as his breakthrough year, defeating some of the top ten players and winning ATP tournaments.

The 12-month period that followed his Madrid Open win set off a chain of events that led Carlos to become the number one ranked player on the planet. As he cracked the top ten, he traveled further in Grand Slam tournaments, and more fans noticed. Following a sensational breakthrough twelve months, this culminated in his first Grand Slam victory when he lifted the coveted US Open at 19 by beating fellow highly-touted youngster Casper Ruud in the final.

 

How Does the Future Look?

Carlos has since lost his world number-one ranking due to injuries and his inability to compete in the big tournaments. He sat at the top of the pile for a few months, and many tennis analysts, fans, and ex-professionals believe this is a taste of what’s to come.

Between 2005-2008, Roger Federer was considered one of the most untouchable tennis players ever. Although Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal were yet to hit their true potential, he was so far ahead of his competitors that he would go into Grand Slams with ridiculously short odds prices. Many believe Alcaraz will be of the same ilk. Some have even projected that he could go on to pass all three, given that he has risen to the top of the world rankings so quickly and at such a young age. Unless he is struck back by serious injury or issues off the court, there’s no reason why he cannot dominate his generation.

His game is magnificent, and it isn’t easy to pick any holes. Even for a player his age, his massive frame, incredible defensive play, and shot range are all marvelous. The idea that he will get even better over the next five years is frightening.

Although other players have shown some promise, like Casper Ruud, it seems pretty evident that when Alcaraz is firing on all cylinders, nobody from the new generation of tennis stars will be able to beat him.