'Technically speaking, he does a lot more things': Carlos Alcaraz's childhood coach calls him 'more complete' player than Rafael Nadal

Carlos Alcaraz's childhood coach Carlos Santos believes the Spaniard is already a more complete player than his legendary compatriot Rafael Nadal. The 22-year-old is already regarded as one of the best players in the world currently playing in men’s tennis in the singles category.

Ever since Alcaraz burst onto the scene, he has often been compared with the former world number one Nadal. The comparison between them grew even further as the current world number two lifted his first French Open title last year after beating Germany’s Alexander Zverev in the final in a five-set thriller. He further solidified his performances on clay this season, where in three competitions, he won twice and finished as the runner-up in the third.

His most recent appearance was at the Rome Open, where he defeated world number one Jannik Sinner in the final in straight sets with a score of 7-6, 6-1. Alcaraz’s childhood coach, Santos, has spoken to TNT Sports, where he suggested that, in his opinion, the youngster is a more complete player compared to the ‘King of clay’ Nadal. Santos also went on to call Alcaraz a ‘magician’.

“Much more complete [than Nadal]," he said. "Tennis-wise, technically speaking, he does a lot more things. The drop shot, for example. Nadal did it well, but this guy [Alcaraz] is a magician. The slice, the volley. Rafa had good shots, very powerful, very spin-heavy, and an exceptional brain, knowing what to do on the court. Carlitos has a different, more magical type of game, one that people love. He runs down every ball, you don't know what he's going to do. He's a magician."

Santos also spoke about how Alcaraz feared in the final in Rome, where he came up against the current best player in the world in Sinner. "They're the two players pushing the hardest," he said. "There aren't any others who have excelled for so long. Having someone at the top and then dropping down is OK, but having someone at the top and then staying at the top... I think they [Alcaraz and Sinner] have to go hand in hand, and if he and Sinner continue like this, both of them can stay up at the top for the long time they have left on tour, and not fall back. Technically, he [Alcaraz] was spectacular. Single-handed backhand Carlos, go for it, and he could hit a one-handed backhand too. If we chose a two-handed backhand then it’s because these days shots are so powerful, and with a single-handed he would have had a hard time. But it was a Federer-type of tennis."