Alcaraz warned of ‘getting full of himself’ and told his place in GOAT race

Carlos Alcaraz has been told not to get too “full of himself” to keep racking up the Grand Slam titles. The world No 1 defeated Novak Djokovic to win his second Major crown at Wimbledon. But retired tennis legend Jimmy Connors doesn’t think Alcaraz will beat Djokovic’s record of 23 Slams and instead tipped the Spaniard to lift 15.

Alcaraz exceeded all expectations on the grass this year, proving why players like Rafael Nadal had long been tipping him to do big things in tennis. The 20-year-old had already won his first Major at last year’s US Open, becoming the world No 1 as a result.

Having played just six matches on the surface in the past – second-round and fourth-round appearances at Wimbledon – he won Queen’s and headed to SW19 where he outlasted Djokovic in a five-set epic to lift the trophy. And Alcaraz has now been backed to win 15 in his career – but he must keep his feet on the ground.

An eight-time Grand Slam champion himself Jimmy Connors told his Advantage Connors Podcast: “If Carlos Alcaraz plays until he is 33. So, he has got 13 years. Let’s just say he plays for 12 more years, that is 48 more slams. And if he doesn’t get too full of himself, I would say 15.”

Alcaraz often talks about the hard work he puts into his tennis, and Connors thought it would be vital to maintain the same attitude if he wanted to keep winning the biggest titles. The former world No 1 added: “That is if he doesn’t think he doesn’t have to go out and work hard and it’s gonna come easy.

“He needs to continue what he’s doing now and looks like he will. He has that passion, that smile, that excitement, and that feel for what he’s doing.” Connors also thought Alcaraz’s achievements would spur on a new generation of future players who would learn from the Spaniard, though also potentially become his rivals.

“I say that because there’s going to be some new kids coming up now, you know those who see him,” he continued. “The 16, 17, and 18 who see him and say, ‘If he can do it, I can do it too! If he’s working like this, I’m working like that!’ But they are all going to find their own way.