John McEnroe Reveals Carlos Alcaraz Line That Took 26 Years Off His Age

Carlos Alcaraz, ever the class act, carries the fire of champions within a humble soul. Even in defeat, he stands tall, grounded, real, and unshaken! His roots run deep in the soil of a modest Spanish upbringing, a truth he once voiced loud and clear: “We came from a medium-class family where we had what was necessary. I was always happy with what I had,” he once added last year. That spirit showed again last night when, despite a rocky start against an Italian veteran in the gentlemen’s singles, his grounded nature shone. And now, John McEnroe reveals what Alcaraz said at Roland Garros that made his week. Curious?

While reflecting on the electrifying clash between Carlos Alcaraz and Fabio Fognini, the Italian who delivered a masterclass in what might be his Wimbledon farewell, John McEnroe brought a moment of warmth and raw truth to BBC Sport. Speaking with heart and humor, the American peeled back the curtain on Alcaraz’s character, offering a glimpse into the humility that defines the young Spaniard. 

“I will tell you a quick thing,” McEnroe began, launching into a memory from Roland Garros. “At the French [Open], going to the player’s gym, because in the second week us old fogies get to play a few matches, and I was just trying to break a sweat on the bike and he’s (Carlos Alcaraz) right next to me and he’s like, ‘Oh my god, you look great!’ and I’m like ‘How old is your father?’” With that sharp McEnroe wit, he continued, “And he says 54 and I go, ‘I am 66’ and he goes, ‘Oh my god, you look like you’re 40!’ Did he need to say that? No. Was I happy he said it? It pretty much made my week.”

But McEnroe didn’t stop there! He drove home a point few make about rising stars: emotional intelligence. “To be honest. So he’s just got a way of just knowing what to say, even then. You saw that post-match interview. It’s almost like he said the right things without even having to think about it. That’s a great quality,” he added. For a player who carries the weight of greatness, Alcaraz wears it with disarming charm, and that, McEnroe made clear, is one of the things that makes him special.

Even following his 4-hour-37-minute epic, Alcaraz was quick to shine the spotlight on Fognini, who was likely playing his final Wimbledon. “I don’t know why it’s his last Wimbledon. The level he showed, he can still play for 3 or 4 more years. Unbelievable. I just have to give him the credit for such a great match,” he said.

It was just another reminder of Carlos Alcaraz’s trademark humility, grace in grit, class in chaos. Despite the intense heat and pressure of Wimbledon, the champion again proved his skill and admirable spirit. As the 138th edition of Wimbledon opened under brutal heat, clocking in as the hottest opening Monday on record, Alcaraz found himself not just battling an opponent, but the elements too.

With temperatures soaring above 32°C, the UK’s Met Office’ reported extreme conditions that left both players and fans reeling. Locked in a dramatic 5-set duel with Italy’s Fabio Fognini, Alcaraz rose to the occasion, on and off the court. When a fan collapsed because of heat stress, Carlos didn’t hesitate. He hurried over with water, which was swiftly given to the distressed spectator, awaiting the medical teams.

“Playing with such a high heat out there is really difficult to deal with,” Alcaraz said. “Even tougher when you’re playing long matches, long rallies. So we’re playing in brutal conditions. It’s really tough to play with, but we are tennis players. Obviously, for the fan, and even here in London, they are not used to having this weather. Sitting five hours in the stand without moving, the sun hitting, could be really difficult to deal with for the spectators.”

Though Alcaraz now moves into the 2nd round, he admitted it was anything but a perfect start. Could it be that the first round revealed a need for further improvements?

Carlos Alcaraz shared his thoughts after the first-round thriller

Carlos Alcaraz’s return to Centre Court wasn’t quite the royal performance fans had hoped for, but it was gritty, dramatic, and ultimately victorious. In his 1st match back since toppling Novak Djokovic in last year’s epic final, the second seed wasn’t at his fluid best. Still, he fought tooth and nail. Saving all five break points he faced in the opening set, Alcaraz conjured a touch of brilliance at 5-5, lifting a perfect lob over Fabio Fognini to steal the crucial break and claim the set.

But momentum slipped away quickly. In the second, Alcaraz’s rhythm faltered. With 20 unforced errors to just 13 winners, inconsistency plagued his baseline game. Fognini, ever the veteran warrior, struck in the tie-break, seizing the fourth set point after Alcaraz pushed a short forehand wide. The Italian had levelled, and the fight was officially on.

The third set was a spectacle. Both players dove full-length, delivering one of the points of the tournament. Fognini, trailing 3-5, pulled Alcaraz corner to corner, finishing off a thrilling exchange with a lethal volley combo. He raised his fists to the crowd in triumph, and moments later, broke the Spaniard to even the set. But Alcaraz didn’t flinch. In the blazing heat, he turned up the pressure, breaking in the 12th game to snatch back the lead.

Fognini wouldn’t back down. He hammered flat backhands through the burning London air, tallying 14 winners in a red-hot fourth set. With the crowd roaring, the Italian forced a fifth, his fighting spirit on full display, echoing memories of his legendary 2015 comeback against Rafael Nadal.

But this time, the magic ran out. In what was likely his final Wimbledon appearance, Fognini finally faded. Alcaraz, fueled by youth and will, surged ahead in the decider to seal the win. It wasn’t pretty, but it was brave.

“Playing the first match on Centre Court is never easy,” Alcaraz admitted. “I have been playing on grass pretty well, but Wimbledon is special. I can feel the difference between Wimbledon and the other tournaments. I just try to play the best I could, but I would say it could be better. I have to improve.”

Up next? A second-round clash against Britain’s own Oliver Tarvet, with a fired-up home crowd waiting. Another thriller is brewing. Want to stay updated on the match and everything else going down at the All England Club? Head to EssentiallySports‘ live blog of The Championships.