Carlos Alcaraz is, undeniably, one of the top two players on the planet.
In fact, before Jannik Sinner dethroned him at Wimbledon, there were many who felt he was the outright best.
After all, the Spaniard was enjoying an unprecedented run of form, having lost just one match out of 29 before that final, winning titles in Rome, Paris and at Queen’s, with the former two coming against the world number one.
Consistency issues and an unpredictable serve have been the main two issues levelled at Alcaraz throughout that period, if there were any, and those certainly intensified at the All-England Club as he struggled through a handful of matches before his run came to an end.
Now, there are worries about whether he can find the necessary formula to regain his supremacy over Sinner heading into the hard courts that the Italian favours so much.
Serena Williams’ former coach has advice for Carlos Alcaraz
Rick Macci, who earned the bulk of his fame for the early development of Serena and Venus Williams, has offered Carlos Alcaraz some advice in this regard, suggesting what he must do to reach ‘the next level’.
Some might laugh at the notion that there is another level for the 22-year-old to reach, but at Wimbledon, Sinner proved that was the case.
Carlos can to go to the next level if he controls the center of the court. Because he is the Spanish Cheetah he can play too far back and run track. If he is dealing the cards on the rise and plays with his eyes he has a better shot at the prize. @carlosalcaraz
— Rick Macci (@RickMacci) July 26, 2025
View Tweet
In all honesty, were it not for a miracle at Roland Garros, he would have lost that final too.
So there clearly is a gulf right now between the two, no matter how small.
Macci’s role in nurturing two of the best female tennis players of all time certainly enhances his opinion on this matter, as he took to X to issue his statement.
When is Carlos Alcaraz’s next tournament?
Since that Wimbledon final, we have seen relatively little of the five-time major champion, who has enjoyed a brief hiatus from tennis.
In choosing to do this, Alcaraz has made the bold decision to withdraw from the Toronto Open, the first Masters 1000 event in the North American swing of the tour.
Photo by Antonio Borga/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images
He was not alone in this decision though, with Sinner, Novak Djokovic and Jack Draper joining him, to name but a few. Taking to social media, he wrote: “After many consecutive weeks of competition without rest, I will not be able to play in Toronto this year. I have small muscles issues and I need to recover physically and mentally for what comes next. To the tournament and to my fans in Canada I am very sorry, I will see you next year!”
With that in mind, Alcaraz’s next tournament will therefore not be until Cincinnati, where he has very few points to defend given he lost in the very first round last year.
It will mark his only competition in preparation for the US Open.