Carlos Alcaraz has redefined tennis with his speed: Leander Paes
Mumbai: Indian tennis legend Leander Paes said Friday Carlos Alcaraz is the most exciting young player to have emerged in the last 10 years. Leander Paes praised the Spaniard for ‘redefining the sport’ with his speed. The 20-year-old Alcaraz is currently ranked World No. 2 and has two Grand Slam wins in his career so far. He has an offensive game which appeals to Paes a lot.
“You look at the two top ones, Iga Swiatek and Alcaraz. I think Alcaraz is probably the most exciting new player in the last decade. For me, he has redefined the game. His speed… Alcaraz has redefined the game of tennis with his speed,” Paes said during an event here.
“His technical knowledge of mathematics, his offensive game with a chop forehand or a drop shot — we were taught that the drop shot is a stupid shot, a ‘chaalaki shot’. My coach used to rap me on the knuckles if I played drop shot,” Paes added.
Paes, who is in the race with five other players from around the world to be included in International Tennis Hall of Fame’s class of 2024, said he was surprised to see the pair of Rohan Bopanna and Yuki Bhambri crashing out early from the race to the gold medal in the Asian Games.
“I was really surprised that Rohan and Yuki lost in that early round — did not expect that. But also really happy to see Ankita Raina win some matches. She was really unlucky in her last match that she lost; she was up two-love in the first set but lost in the final set,” Paes pointed out.
Talking about the pair of Ramkumar Ramanathan and Saketh Myneni, who clinched the silver medal Friday, Paes said, “I was impressed and really happy with Ramkumar and Saketh. They really played very well and could have won the final also.
Paes has been included in the six-member list for the players’ category for a rolling period of three years to be nominated in ITHF class of 2024. The official announcement of nomination from both players’ and contributors’ category inductees for the class of 2024 will be announced November 1.
“For me to be nominated as the first nomination into the player category, as the first Indian to do that, is very special because dad (Vece Peas) has motivated me to push the boundaries and put India on the map,” said Paes, who was accompanied by his father and daughter Aiyana, who is currently training in the sport.