Carlos Alcaraz has ignited men’s tennis, but now it faces a big problem

It is difficult to predict whether this painful loss to the most complete player he has ever faced will spur Djokovic forward or accelerate his journey to retirement. Regardless, he can’t last forever, and Alcaraz is the only man on tour right now who deserves to be named in the same vein as the greats.

“Today, really at the end of the match, I had the feeling that I am ready for these situations, to play epic matches with great legends and in great scenarios,” Alcaraz told Spanish reporters on Sunday. I know I feel it about me.

The same cannot be said for those around him.

Before the tournament, Wimbledon organizers had tried to create a new rivalry between Jannik Sinner and Alcaraz in a photo that went viral for all the wrong reasons. Sinner, who is 18 months older than Alcaraz, had shared one of last year’s most dramatic battles with the Spaniard at the US Open and there is every chance they will have another epic matchup. But the Sinners’ comparatively humble performance against Djokovic in the semi-finals provided a stark contrast to Alcaraz’s vitality and mentality when he faced the all-time great. The Italian is not ready and may never reach Alcaraz.

Then there was the way Alcaraz dismantled Daniil Medvedev in the semifinals, which was embarrassing. Medvedev, 27, is only the second male player born in the 1990s to win a major, with the previous golden generation brushing aside the treasures of other hopes. He is also the man who snuffed out Djokovic’s last hope of a rare calendar Slam in New York in 2021, and last year became the first world No.1 outside the big four for 18 years. But he blew a two-set lead against Rafael Nadal in the 2022 Australian Open final and arguably hasn’t been the same player at a Major since. With the emergence of Alcaraz, the son of the 21st century, one wonders if Medvedev’s time to shine is already over.

Casper Ruud is another series finalist who has reached three of the last six grand slam tournaments. But she only won one set in those three attempts against Alcaraz at the Spanish maiden championship last year in the United States. Here at Wimbledon, the 24-year-old Ruud seemed barely fazed by his second-round exit, shrugging that grass just isn’t his thing. It suggests he doesn’t have an iota of the rivalry that so clearly fuels Alcaraz, much less the whole game.

Then there’s Denmark’s Holger Rune, perhaps the player-experts closest to Alcarazs talent. The pair grew up on the junior circuit together as they were born just a week apart. Rune has shied away from the idea that world number one Alcaraz is already head and shoulders above him and has the ruthless confidence and flair to attract fans to the sport. But Alcaraz destroyed him in straight sets in the quarterfinals last week and looked years ahead in terms of physical and mental development. He may want to compete, but he’s not quite ready yet.

Alcaraz is alone in this group of 20-year-olds. Speaking at the Champions Dinner late on Sunday, he said he was looking forward to flying back to his hometown of Murcia to feel like a normal boy again. With the entire sport now resting in the palm of his hand, that is no longer possible.