Alcaraz Hype

James P

James P

G.O.A.T.
I wasn't around (at least not the tennis world) for the hype trains of Nadal, Gasquet, Djokovic, and Murray. Especially with Nadal, how does Alcaraz' hype compare to what they were receiving as youngsters?

By the way, I'm not implying it's deserved or undeserved, just comparing for those who have been around tennis that long.
 
I had been watching Federer dominate tennis for a few years when Nadal came along.
While Nadal was a teen sensation, his hype really went up when he first beat federer in 2004 masters and went through the roof when he beat federer in 2005 RG and went on to win it.
I think while Alcaraz hype is well deserved so far, he needs to make a dent at the slams this year to make it more complete. Even if he doesn't manage to win a slam this year, he needs to atleast beat either Nadal or Djokovic in one of the slams. Several players have been beating them regularly in BO3 but to do it in BO5 will justify the hype.
 
James P said:
I wasn't around (at least not the tennis world) for the hype trains of Nadal, Gasquet, Djokovic, and Murray. Especially with Nadal, how does Alcaraz' hype compare to what they were receiving as youngsters?

By the way, I'm not implying it's deserved or undeserved, just comparing for those who have been around tennis that long.
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The hype did not start for Rafa until he beat top players like Moya, Roddick, Fed and Agassi iirc
 
Commentators are beginning to say Alcaraz is better than Rafa & Novak at the same age. They can’t have been watching tennis then because he is nowhere near the 18 year old Rafa.

Rafa won 2 Masters at the age of 18 and a slam days after he turned 19. Alcaraz turns 19 in May. Let’s see what happens.
 
Nadal - GOAT said:
I had been watching Federer dominate tennis for a few years when Nadal came along.
While Nadal was a teen sensation, his hype really went up when he first beat federer in 2004 masters and went through the roof when he beat federer in 2005 RG and went on to win it.
I think while Alcaraz hype is well deserved so far, he needs to make a dent at the slams this year to make it more complete. Even if he doesn't manage to win a slam this year, he needs to atleast beat either Nadal or Djokovic in one of the slams. Several players have been beating them regularly in BO3 but to do it in BO5 will justify the hype.
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They are 'old' , not really the big upset if they are beaten now, as say for instance young Rafa beating established Fed
 
James P said:
I wasn't around (at least not the tennis world) for the hype trains of Nadal, Gasquet, Djokovic, and Murray. Especially with Nadal, how does Alcaraz' hype compare to what they were receiving as youngsters?

By the way, I'm not implying it's deserved or undeserved, just comparing for those who have been around tennis that long.
Click to expand...
Gasquet? Lol. He was never in the same hype department than Nadal, Djokovic and Murray.
 
Bender said:
Nadal beat Moya when he was like 16, so the hype started pretty early for Nadal
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there's a clip of a football game where Rafa's uncle is playing and the commies are talking what a talent Miguel's nephew is in tennis.
Whar's his name? asks one.
The other says Rafael
'OK, we'll remember and watch out says the other
James P said:
I wasn't around (at least not the tennis world) for the hype trains of Nadal, Gasquet, Djokovic, and Murray. Especially with Nadal, how does Alcaraz' hype compare to what they were receiving as youngsters?

By the way, I'm not implying it's deserved or undeserved, just comparing for those who have been around tennis that long.
Click to expand...
To answer the OP, There's more social media now and more volume of hype... earlier, it was the commies and some mags.
Not that I was tracking anything
 
JustMy2Cents said:
They are 'old' , not really the big upset if they are beaten now, as say for instance young Rafa beating established Fed
Click to expand...
I agree. Young rafa beating Peak Fed was epic. I don't think Alcaraz is expected to reach the heights of Rafa anyways.

Beating Rafa at RG; Novak at Wimb; Either of them at USO will be a great achievement this year. Of course they are old so it should not be that big a deal. The only reason it will be a big deal to some extent is because the rest of the field have been struggling to do it.
 
Bender said:
Nadal beat Moya when he was like 16, so the hype started pretty early for Nadal
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True.. There was a lot of hype surrounding Nadal pretty early. But the way Federer was dominating the field back then, many doubted if Rafa could get past Federer and win slams (especially in HC and Grass).
The amazing part was that he dominated the head to head against Fed from the start and that really shocked the tennis world.

I hope Alcaraz can do something similar with Novak. Beat him at slams and dominate the head to head right away. That will make a statement.
 
clayqueen said:
Commentators are beginning to say Alcaraz is better than Rafa & Novak at the same age. They can’t have been watching tennis then because he is nowhere near the 18 year old Rafa.

Rafa won 2 Masters at the age of 18 and a slam days after he turned 19. Alcaraz turns 19 in May. Let’s see what happens.
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Young Djokovic is underrated
 
Nadal - GOAT said:
I agree. Young rafa beating Peak Fed was epic. I don't think Alcaraz is expected to reach the heights of Rafa anyways.

Beating Rafa at RG; Novak at Wimb; Either of them at USO will be a great achievement this year. Of course they are old so it should not be that big a deal. The only reason it will be a big deal to some extent is because the rest of the field have been struggling to do it.
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Even beating Djokovic at RG will be a great result for Carlos.
 
Rafa and Novak are in their mid thirties admittedly but they are still the ones to beat. Look what's happening now with the top players hardly making the QFs. Medvedev is 26, Zverev, Tsitsipas, Rublev, Berrettini are all 23-24. At their age, Rafa, Novak and Andy made the QF in 90% of all tournaments they played and one of them including Federer would take the trophy home. I heard Medvedev saying they heard that Roger and Rafa weren't coming back so that gave them some hope of winning something. That just proves that even the NextGen don't believe they are there yet.
 
clayqueen said:
Rafa and Novak are in their mid thirties admittedly but they are still the ones to beat. Look what's happening now with the top players hardly making the QFs. Medvedev is 26, Zverev, Tsitsipas, Rublev, Berrettini are all 23-24. At their age, Rafa, Novak and Andy made the QF in 90% of all tournaments they played and one of them including Federer would take the trophy home. I heard Medvedev saying they heard that Roger and Rafa weren't coming back so that gave them some hope of winning something. That just proves that even the NextGen don't believe they are there yet.
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Just look at Nadal defeating Alcaraz with dead balls being used and with a fractured rib. Tells you all you need to know really.

Alcaraz also lost to Berrettini at AO, look what Rafa then did to Berrettini.
 
There is definitely a drive in the tennis industry to hype Alcaraz. You can see it with the commentators. It feels very forced. Obviously he has great potential and he's putting some strong results together however, in my eyes, the hype is a little bit unjustified. I'd need him to reach a 1000 final and a slam SF and beat a few more top players, like Medvedev, Nadal.
 
Everyone develops at different stages. There will probably never be another Nadal who comes through so young.

Fed and Djokovic were certainly later with their game.

We need to wait and see how the kid evolves.
 
mike danny said:
Even as an underachiever, Fed still won titles at every level when he was 22. Everyone under the age of 23 sucks today.
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Yes, but Alcaraz isnt 22. This is my point. People on here think he should have won a ton of titles already at 18.

We might see this kid take off by the end of this year, and then he could be the top player in the game by the time hes 20.

We just dont know.
 
clayqueen said:
Watching the replay of their match at IW it is clear that without the gale force winds Rafa would have beaten Alcaraz in straight sets.
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Nadal was giving him a lesson in the first set after he settled in beyond Alcaraz's early break. Nadal just needed a minute to feel him out and he began handling his pace with ease. It would have been a quick second set if the weather didn't become hurricane-like.
 
mike danny said:
He's not better, but not worse than Rafa either. If he wins Miami, he will be ahead of Rafa age-wise.
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What are we talking about? His game, or his achievements are on par with 18 yo Rafa ?

Rafa reached 4R at the AO, the final of Miami, then won Barcelona, Monte Carlo and Rome.

Then on his 19th birthday, he beat the great Federer and then went on to win RG.

Alcaraz sure has alot to do, before anyone can say hes on par with that, in achievements.

Plus , i dont see him anywhere near Nadal in terms of his actual overall game at that age.
 
kevaninho said:
What are we talking about? His game, or his achievements are on par with 18 yo Rafa ?

Rafa reached 4R at the AO, the final of Miami, then won Barcelona, Monte Carlo and Rome.

Then on his 19th birthday, he beat the great Federer and then went on to win RG.

Alcaraz sure has alot to do, before anyone can say hes on par with that, in achievements.

Plus , i dont see him anywhere near Nadal in terms of his actual overall game at that age.
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Well, the clay season isn't upon us yet which is why I didn't mention it. Alcaraz hasn't had the chance to show his attributes on clay yet.
 
Access to tennis media and social media is a massive driver behind the hype train - not just for Alcaraz, but for the rest of the crew too. Plenty of people have shown promise for a while and simply haven't sustained it - they either couldn't keep focus or their games got exposed.

You could argue that Alcaraz is developing the same rate as Nadal did IF he wins a Slam, a couple of Masters titles and a couple of other titles this year. But it's not a realistic expectation - comparisons with any of the Big 3 are impossible because their development trajectories were unique.
Game is very solid - certainly a product of its time and with good weapons, although lacking some flair perhaps
Let's revisit in another 12 months as he approaches 20 and see what else he adds to the trophy cabinet.
 
It’s nowhere near the level that it was for Rafa’s emergence. He came along during Fed’s dominance and was the first real threat. Plus his playing style & look was so unique & caught everyone’s eye.

Alcaraz is at a different time, where there’s a lull in terms of a dominant superstar. Media are so desperate for the next big thing which inflated the hype.

Plus the kid has done nothing yet in terms of major wins. I think expectations need to be kept in check here
 
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