At the same age, Nadal was running like Bugs Bunny retrieving the ball. Alcaraz is hitting as hard as anyone ever, and is just as fast. Alcaraz would run Nadal off the court.
Alcaraz vs the Big 3, an age-by-age comparison (UPDATED)
- Thread starter Sport
- Start date
Sport
G.O.A.T.
Not quite as fast. Young Nadal was even faster. But I agree with the rest of your post highlighting Raz's offensive power and kittool, which was better than Nadal (especially the superior serve and his overall riskier style, far more optimum for faster surfaces).
mehdimike
Hall of Fame
Complete in what sense?! If by that you mean he has more weapons in his arsenal that I agree with you BUT his weaknesses could be fatal against any decent player, namely shot selection and making too many UFEs. In fact he could lose all 4 slams he has won so far which was not the case for 2008 AO Novak or 2007 RG Rafa for instance. I guess if all big 3 members and Carlos were born the same year he wouldn't be winning more than every one of them.
Hitman
Bionic Poster
He lacks tennis maturity, the way Federer did for a while, but he has all the shots, his game is actually complete. He can do it all, and has the greatest dropshots of all time.
Djokovic_is_the_best#1
Bionic Poster
Agreed. The guy has no weaknesses and an insanely high peak. That FH, movement, net play and drop shots were unplayable today!
The_Order
G.O.A.T.
I think this Wimbledon final is the most solid I've seen him in terms of consistency. There were just no irrational dips in his play like we're used to seeing from him. Of course, Djok's poor level aided him in this too.
Still, I think at age 21 it's debatable v Rafa at age 21. I don't care about title counts, the fact is Nadal at the time had 06 and 07 Federer in the Wimbledon final whereas Carlos has had 23 and 24 Djokovic. There's no comparison to the level of difficulty in opponents. Swap the opponents and it's likely Rafa has 5 majors by now (3 RG + 2 WIM) whilst Carlos just has RG24 as I don't see him beating 05Fed (although, he'd at least reach Fed at that event whereas Nadal couldn't) at the US Open and he's not beating peak Federer at Wimbledon either.
mehdimike
Hall of Fame
I agree with the dropshot part. But then again we need to see the maturity thing evolves in the future, cause it didn't change a lot during the past 2-3 years although TBH him being an instictive player is exactly what has made him a fun lad to watch on the court.
Hitman
Bionic Poster
Alcaraz is a Goldberg type of player, full on smash mouth, who only knows one gear....full throttle. That is just who he is, and the fact he can express himself on court is why he is so special.
messiahrobins
Legend
The FH is harder than Rafa's and has more spin as well. It can leak errors but noticeably yesterday he kept it under control which means when he looks an UFE machine its because he isnt dialled in as he knows he will win. He often takes liberties with opponents with the exception of Novak and Sinner.
messiahrobins
Legend
England were woeful, right team won. Better for football for a genuinely top team to win. Spain Argentina Colombia are the Big 3 currently, way ahead of the rest.
I have been hung over all day. Had to go to the gym to sweat it all out!!
Looking forward to the Olympics. Novak Carlos or Zverev to get Gold.
Bron Breakker*
Just as intense but a legitimately skilled athletic specimen.
Daniel Andrade
Hall of Fame
no one was attacking Fed, and out of nowhere you come here to defend him. Talk about insecure.
inflation_era
Professional
I never claimed Fed was being attacked. Just setting the record straight, nothing insecure about that.
TheFifthSet
Legend
At 21 Nadal was leading the points race heading into the 2007 Wimbledon final, where he took Federer to 5 after dispatching a tough draw consisting of Fish, Youzhny, Soderling, Berdych and Djokovic (albeit an injured one).
Before that, he had one of his best CC seasons and won IW without losing a set.
At the point of the year Carlos is in now, here were Nadal's match stats:
56-8, 55.4 TPW%, 89/35 service/return game won splits, 1.40 Dominance Ratio.
Here are Tiny's:
38-7, 54.5 TPW%, 86/33 splits, 1.31 Dominance Ratio.
I think he'd do fine.
zakopinjo
Professional
Alcaraz at age 21 ad 8 months had:
-4 Slams.
-5 Masters
- 0 ATP finals
-16 Titles
-36 weeks at #1.
-1 Year End #1.
Federer at age 21 and 8 months had:
-0 Slams.
-1 Masters
-0 ATP finals
-6 Titles
-0 weeks at #1.
-0 Year End #1.
Nadal at age 21 and 8 months had:
-3 Slams.
-9 Masters
-0 ATP finals
-24 Titles
-0 weeks at #1.
-0 Year End #1.
Djokovic at age 21 and 8 months had:
-1 Slam.
-4 Masters
-1 ATP finals
-11 Titles
-0 weeks at #1.
-0 Year End #1.
-4 Slams.
-5 Masters
- 0 ATP finals
-16 Titles
-36 weeks at #1.
-1 Year End #1.
Federer at age 21 and 8 months had:
-0 Slams.
-1 Masters
-0 ATP finals
-6 Titles
-0 weeks at #1.
-0 Year End #1.
Nadal at age 21 and 8 months had:
-3 Slams.
-9 Masters
-0 ATP finals
-24 Titles
-0 weeks at #1.
-0 Year End #1.
Djokovic at age 21 and 8 months had:
-1 Slam.
-4 Masters
-1 ATP finals
-11 Titles
-0 weeks at #1.
-0 Year End #1.
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The only fair comparison would be Alcaraz vs. Federer. Sadly, Federer was not smart enough to capitalize early in his career before the new ATGs arrived, which Carlos did.
Djokovic and Nadal had each other besides a peaking Federer to compete with in their early years. Also, the rest of the field is not even comparable to what there was in the 2000s and early 2010s.
Djokovic and Nadal had each other besides a peaking Federer to compete with in their early years. Also, the rest of the field is not even comparable to what there was in the 2000s and early 2010s.
Daniel Andrade
Hall of Fame
The Alcaraz - Nadal comparison is getting tricky
Bride of Alcaraz
Rookie
Its mindboggling to think of all the Wimbledons that Alcaraz will win!
There is no limit, as even Alcaraz's biggest rival (Sinner) has lost 6 sets in a row to Djokovic at Wimbledon.
Alcaraz is the only contender at Wimbledon who really knows how to win it, other than Djokovic
Also Alcaraz's biggest rivals on clay would be Zverev and Sinner, both extremely unlikely to win Roland Garros.
Zverev lacks the mental strength, and Sinner's only clay title is Umag 2022...
And most importantly, Alcaraz totally solved his elbow problem in 2024.
There is no limit, as even Alcaraz's biggest rival (Sinner) has lost 6 sets in a row to Djokovic at Wimbledon.
Alcaraz is the only contender at Wimbledon who really knows how to win it, other than Djokovic
Also Alcaraz's biggest rivals on clay would be Zverev and Sinner, both extremely unlikely to win Roland Garros.
Zverev lacks the mental strength, and Sinner's only clay title is Umag 2022...
And most importantly, Alcaraz totally solved his elbow problem in 2024.
Tallawah Tennis
Semi-Pro
Thanks man, nice summary to juxtapose achievements by age against the Big 3 - just noting the said corrections for Carlitos For current accuracy. Achievements at the end of his career will be the applicable comparison of course, but these (and further) insights certainly add interest.Alcaraz at age 21 ad 8 months had: Carlitos is currently aged 21 and 6 months - born 05.05.2003
-4 Slams.
-5 Masters
- 0 ATP finals
-16 Titles
-20 weeks at #1. He has a current record of 36 weeks as number 1 --1 Year End #1.Rankings | PIF ATP Rankings Former No. 1s | ATP Tour | Tennis | ATP Tour | Tennis
Overview of current and former ATP Tour tennis players to have reached No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings in men's professional tennis.www.atptour.com
nolefam_2024
Bionic Poster
Boom and just like that the entire early advantage will evaporate.
Winner Sinner
Professional
Parallelism of the big three for slam titles at the same age (I take into account the season of their birthday ×)
19 years old
Federer= 0
Nadal= 1
Djokovic= 0
20 years
Federer= 0
Nadal = 2
Djokovic= 0
21 years old
Federer= 0
Nadal = 3
Djokovic = 1
22 years old
Federer = 1
Nadal = 5
Djokovic = 1
23 years old
Federer = 4
Nadal = 6
Djokovic = 1
24 years old
Federer = 6
Nadal = 9
Djokovic = 4
25 years
Federer = 9
Nadal = 10
Djokovic = 5
26 years old
Federer = 12
Nadal = 11
Djokovic = 6
27 years old
Federer = 13
Nadal = 13
Djokovic = 7
28 years old
Federer = 15
Nadal = 14
Djokovic = 10
29 years old
Federer = 16
Nadal = 14
Djokovic = 12
30 years
Federer = 16
Nadal = 14
Djokovic = 12
31 years old
Federer = 17
Nadal = 16
Djokovic = 14
32 years old
Federer = 17
Nadal = 17
Djokovic = 16
33 years old
Federer = 17
Nadal = 19
Djokovic = 17
34 years old
Federer = 17
Nadal = 20
Djokovic = 20
35 years old
Federer = 17
Nadal = 20
Djokovic = 21
36 years old
Federer = 19
Nadal = 22
Djokovic = 24
37 years old
Federer = 20
Nadal = 22
Djokovic = 24
Coincidentally in their 30th birthday season none of them managed to win a slam.
The Curse of the 30th Year.
19 years old
Federer= 0
Nadal= 1
Djokovic= 0
20 years
Federer= 0
Nadal = 2
Djokovic= 0
21 years old
Federer= 0
Nadal = 3
Djokovic = 1
22 years old
Federer = 1
Nadal = 5
Djokovic = 1
23 years old
Federer = 4
Nadal = 6
Djokovic = 1
24 years old
Federer = 6
Nadal = 9
Djokovic = 4
25 years
Federer = 9
Nadal = 10
Djokovic = 5
26 years old
Federer = 12
Nadal = 11
Djokovic = 6
27 years old
Federer = 13
Nadal = 13
Djokovic = 7
28 years old
Federer = 15
Nadal = 14
Djokovic = 10
29 years old
Federer = 16
Nadal = 14
Djokovic = 12
30 years
Federer = 16
Nadal = 14
Djokovic = 12
31 years old
Federer = 17
Nadal = 16
Djokovic = 14
32 years old
Federer = 17
Nadal = 17
Djokovic = 16
33 years old
Federer = 17
Nadal = 19
Djokovic = 17
34 years old
Federer = 17
Nadal = 20
Djokovic = 20
35 years old
Federer = 17
Nadal = 20
Djokovic = 21
36 years old
Federer = 19
Nadal = 22
Djokovic = 24
37 years old
Federer = 20
Nadal = 22
Djokovic = 24
Coincidentally in their 30th birthday season none of them managed to win a slam.
The Curse of the 30th Year.
