Can Alcaraz still be an ATG if he does NOT beat Djokovic in UsOpen 2025 SemiFinal?

[RS]

Would Federer be an ATG if he lost to Agassi at the 06 USO?

You tell us.

 

[captainbryce]

There is so much hype on Alcaraz and many people already annoint him as an ATG and apparently his peak level is the HIGHEST ever.

If a 38 year old Novak beats Alcaraz on Friday, it perhaps means that Alcaraz isn't good enough. At least compared to Fed/Nadal/Novak/Sampras etc.

How can you be an ATG when you couldn't beat 38 year old past his prime aging champion? What would a peak Novak do to Alcaraz at the UsOpen?

The time for Alcaraz to step it up is NOW. No excuses. He is at his PEAK. His rival is aging and the surface favors Carlos as well. A loss would be a big setback for Carlitos and his hype train.

Considering that he’s already beaten Djokovic in two consecutive Wimbledon finals (when he was likewise past his prime, but still younger than he is now) I’d say that already cements Alcaraz as an ATG according to your own subjective criteria! As far as the surface favoring Carlos…I don’t see how. His best surface is grass and his second best surface is clay. If anything, hardcourt is his weakest surface and Djokovic’s best surface. So I’m not sure what logic you are using here.

 

[Golden-24]

All time great, yes. THE Goat, no.

 

[DSH]

There’s no shame losing on your worst surface to the greatest player ever on his best surface.

Wouldn't it be embarrassing to lose, already in his prime, against a 38-year-old player in clear decline?
Please stop making excuses.

 

[DSH]

So if Djokovic had lost one of the Championship points against Federer at Wimbledon in 2019, he would not be an ATG by the OP’s logic.

It's not the same, no.
It's like if Djokovic from 2011 lost to that version of Federer.
It would be quite humiliating if a player in the prime of his career couldn't beat an opponent a decade and a half older than him.

 

[mike danny]

He still would, but with a pretty big stain on his resume.

 

[mike danny]

Does this mean that Federer isn’t an ATG either? When he was at his peak, he got steamrolled at the FO by one-hip washed-up Kuerten.

Alcaraz getting owned by the 38-year-old hard court GOAT on Friday might simply be an example of why Alcaraz isn’t YET an ATG on hard courts. But I won’t write Alcaraz off on hard courts at the age of 22. That sounds ludicrous to me.

As another poster said, it’s all about wins and titles. Once you get a bunch of both, then nobody can take anything away from you.

Not quite the same. Fed clearly hadn’t found his footing on clay yet. Alcaraz is a HC slam winner

 

[gamelovergold]

Alcaraz this season is playing his best tennis. He has chance to become #1 player if he wins USO.
A loss here is not warranted.

 

[Kralingen]

We know for certain that Juan Carlos Ferrero will never be an ATG coach. Perhaps Alcaraz might still have time to become an ATG player, but Ferrero’s career is over at this level if he loses this match.

 

[ForehandCross]

List of players who have beaten Novak Djokovic in a HC Slam semifinal :

Roger Federer.
Nishikori.

End of List.


I think Carlos will survive.

 

[boredone3456]

Because everyone will ignore him beating Djokovic twice at Wimbledon if he loses to him in this USO SF?

 

[SonnyT]

Not as long as he beats Sinner in next 2 slams!

 

[dking68]

He would be a weak time great. Not at an all time great

 

[Cabeza del Demonio]

Yes he can lmao.

He already has 5 slams, say he wins 8 more and gets to 13, you're gonna say he can't be an ATG because of one loss?

Bit silly don't you think.

Sampras lost to Richard Krajicek at Wimbledon '96. If he can't even beat a garden variety servebot at his favorite Slam, can you really call him an ATG?

 

[Gary Duane]

There is so much hype on Alcaraz and many people already annoint him as an ATG and apparently his peak level is the HIGHEST ever.

If a 38 year old Novak beats Alcaraz on Friday, it perhaps means that Alcaraz isn't good enough. At least compared to Fed/Nadal/Novak/Sampras etc.

How can you be an ATG when you couldn't beat 38 year old past his prime aging champion? What would a peak Novak do to Alcaraz at the UsOpen?

The time for Alcaraz to step it up is NOW. No excuses. He is at his PEAK. His rival is aging and the surface favors Carlos as well. A loss would be a big setback for Carlitos and his hype train.

Of course he can be an all time great and I think he already is. But even if Djokovic loses, you have to keep in mind the record Carlos has against Djokovic so late in his career. In my mind there is no doubt whatsoever that Djokovic at his peak was an even better player. We also need to keep in mind that Alcaraz may not yet be at his absolute peak. He probably has a couple more years to get there.

If Carlos does not dominate today then I think we have to reevaluate how good he is. If he loses it would be a huge disappointment for his fans. In my mind Carlos not only needs to win today but he needs to send a message by dominating in straight sets.

 

[legcramp]

Can someone be an ATG (a term commonly used for players starting with around 5 or 6 Slams) if he loses one specific match against someone who is 4 times that player?

If the answer is "No", then how could the answer still be "Yes" after let's say a loss to Botic van de Zandschulp?

I think that should give away the only possible answer.

There would have been no ATG ever if a comparable loss would be the end of that claim. But in reality, no loss at all could ever do that. It's about WINS and TITLES.

Botic kicked both their butts recently lol

 

[BauerAlmeida]

Does this mean that Federer isn’t an ATG either? When he was at his peak, he got steamrolled at the FO by one-hip washed-up Kuerten.

Kuerten was like 28 at the time, despite the fact he had hip surgery before.

 

[Turning Pro]

List of players who have beaten Novak Djokovic in a HC Slam semifinal :

Roger Federer.
Nishikori.

End of List.


I think Carlos will survive.

Sinner?
Zverev?

 

[chjtennis]

Glad now that we don't have to answer to the Original Question lol

 

[Tano]

Alcaraz losing to Novak will be like Lendl losing to Connors at the 1982 and 1983 US Opens which I do think taints his reputation

There was a difference of less than 8 years between them, quite significant but at the same time, clearly less than that between Djokovic and Alcaraz.

 

[hoodjem]

There is so much hype on Alcaraz and many people already annoint him as an ATG and apparently his peak level is the HIGHEST ever.

If a 38 year old Novak beats Alcaraz on Friday, it perhaps means that Alcaraz isn't good enough. At least compared to Fed/Nadal/Novak/Sampras etc.

How can you be an ATG when you couldn't beat 38 year old past his prime aging champion? What would a peak Novak do to Alcaraz at the UsOpen?

The time for Alcaraz to step it up is NOW. No excuses. He is at his PEAK. His rival is aging and the surface favors Carlos as well. A loss would be a big setback for Carlitos and his hype train.

Whether one is an ATG is defined by an entire career, not a single match.

Alcaraz won. Case closed.