Carlos Alcaraz wants to reach famous heights of Rafael Nadal, suggests Bjorn Borg - 'He wants to achieve what Rafa did'

Two-time Barcelona Open winner Bjorn Borg has suggested that Carlos Alcaraz wants to reach the heights that tennis icon Rafael Nadal did over his incredible career. At 21, Alcaraz already has four Grand Slams and 18 titles in total, and is on track to finish his career as one of the greats. The Spaniard is eyeing his third Barcelona Open title after winning the tournament in 2022 and 2023.

Bjorn Borg has suggested that Carlos Alcaraz could become 'the King of tennis' as he compared the young Spaniard with the now retired Rafael Nadal.

Borg made his return to Barcelona this week, 50 years after winning his first title in the Spanish city in 1975, picking up a second in 1977.

This year he is a spectator, watching his son Leo attempt to make his mark at the Conde de Godo, where he lost in the qualifiers to Great Britain's Jacob Fearnley.

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But the star of tomorrow that the Swede is most captivated by is 21-year-old Carlos Alcaraz, who Borg has coached at the Laver Cup, and who this week is attempting to win his third Barcelona Open.

"Alcaraz, I think he wants to achieve what Rafa did and he is an unbelievable player," Borg said.

"He's still very young, and I think, I hope, he's going to win more Grand Slams. And I think he will win more Grand Slams.

"He has the right mentality, he can play on any kind of surface. He has been number one, he's top. But I hope at least this year, he wins at least one Grand Slam.

"I'm going to watch him because I like the guy. Hopefully, maybe, he's going to be the king of tennis."

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Should Alcaraz win in Barcelona this year, he will draw level with Manuel Orantes and Mats Wilander on three titles in Catalonia. But those two are dwarfed by Nadal's achievements and the 12 Barcelona Open titles he captured over his incredible career.

So too may Alcaraz come for Nadal's title as the 'King of Clay.' Alcaraz is already proving himself a worthy successor to that throne, winning the 2024 French Open, and nine of his career titles coming on clay.

The 2025 French Open kicks off at the end of May, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

"Rafa is a good friend of mine. What he did in tennis is unbelievable," Bjorg added.

"King of clay. What he achieved is unbelievable and the motivation and what he wanted. To see him on the court, you'd never seen a player like him on the court. He's fighting, it doesn't matter what the score is, he's always there, he wants to win.

"For me, mentally, of all the players I've seen, he is my favourite."

'That is outrageous!' - Alcaraz with sublime volley, celebrates wildly with Nadal

Video credit: TNT Sports

Top seed Alcaraz overcame a nervy first-round tie to beat Ethan Quinn 6-2 7-6(6) in Barcelona, and now faces Laslo Djere in the last 16.

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