When Carlos Alcaraz locks in and his impossibly complete game hums at full throttle, nothing can stand in his way. From the earliest years of his career, racing through major titles with breathtaking speed, this dominance has been undeniable. On the grandest stages, he has consistently delivered, most recently with a sensational performance against his fiercest rival, Jannik Sinner, in the US Open final, reclaiming the world No. 1 ranking for the first time in two years. Now, as he prepares to electrify Team Europe against Team World, John McEnroe drops a bold statement on Carlos Alcaraz, ditching Roger Federer, just hours before his Laver Cup showdown with Taylor Fritz.

Just a few hours ago, the official Instagram page of the Tennis Channel shared two captivating video clips featuring John McEnroe weighing in on the meteoric rise of Carlos Alcaraz, captioned, “Smiling his way to success 😀👑.” The American legend started off playfully, asking, “How much time do we got?” before diving into a reflection that spanned decades of tennis history.

McEnroe reminisced about the golden eras he had witnessed firsthand, saying, “I mean, it’s really, I watched tennis for 50 years, you know, longer in a way, and obviously we went through a period, I mean, I idolize Rod, I said that, I got to play against Bjorn Borg, Jimmy Conors, Ivan Lendl, my three greatest rivals.” His voice carried the weight of experience, reminding fans that greatness isn’t just observed, it’s lived on the court.

He then punctuated the narrative with a nod to the next wave of legends: “Along came these nobody’s, what’s their name? Becker, Edberg, Agassi, Sampras, you’re like, Oh my god, this is amazing.” McEnroe’s words captured the awe of witnessing tennis evolve, the sport constantly renewing itself with new icons.

Turning to the era of the modern Big Three, he marveled, “And then to top it off, you get Roger, Rafa, and Novak, you’re like, I am looking at the three greatest players that ever lived and suddenly along comes this other guy from Spain.” The anticipation in his voice highlighted the shock and excitement of seeing a young phenom emerge amidst giants.

Reflecting on Alcaraz’s prodigious talent, McEnroe said, “Remember seeing him, probably 17, hey, this guy got some talent, this guy’s pretty quick out there. I am never in my wildest dreams, I’ll tell you, of all the players I’ve ever watched, at this age, I have never seen a player this good, this complete, the last two to three years.” He painted a vivid picture of a player whose skill set feels almost otherworldly.

McEnroe also couldn’t resist commenting on Alcaraz’s charm, noting, “And with that damn smile that you have, I am very jealous of that, okay?” When asked about the young Spaniard’s blonde hair, which caught the attention of his own teammates, McEnroe quipped, “Well, the blond hair is, I don’t know about that one, but whatever he wants, I am happy with.” His playful admiration highlighted both respect and genuine affection for the rising star.

Finally, McEnroe reflected on Alcaraz’s impact on the game, saying, “Thank God for Carlos Alcaraz, what he is bringing to the table, I have a tennis academy, last 15 years, and you know the young kids, they always want, like you said, emulate the big boys, and I am hoping that they’re gonna look at Carlos and what he does then how he loves to be aggressive and move forward because we lost a lot of that, you know, you don’t see that volleying that much, but I think that’s going to change because of him. So you talk about a breath of fresh air when we desperately needed it when we thought, oh my god, what are we going to do? These three guys are finished, you are two quint and Novak looks human all of a sudden, so to have him and Jannik come in and other guys got to chase and try to catch up, it’s really awesome.” McEnroe’s words wove together admiration, hope, and excitement, capturing Alcaraz as a force breathing new life into tennis.

And if you thought John McEnroe was the only one marveling at Carlos Alcaraz, think again; his American counterpart, Andre Agassi, McEnroe’s successor as Team World captain, has also sung high praise for the Spaniard, celebrating his talent, fire, and unstoppable rise with words full of respect and admiration.

Andre Agassi says Alcaraz blends the Big 3

Carlos Alcaraz’s meteoric rise on the ATP Tour has inevitably drawn comparisons to Rafael Nadal, not just for their shared Spanish roots but also for their fierce, all-court playing style. Yet over the years, Alcaraz has crafted a more complete game, one that, in the eyes of Andre Agassi, merges the finest qualities of Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Roger Federer.

Speaking to the ATP’s official site ahead of the Laver Cup in San Francisco, the American legend lavished praise on Alcaraz for his talent and his uncanny ability to channel the strengths of tennis’ greatest icons. “There’s not a place in the world where he goes and he’s not the crowd favourite,” Agassi said. “And for obvious reasons. What he’s brought to the game is a mixture of the last generation we had.”

Agassi went on to break down what makes the Spaniard so exceptional. “I know Novak is still playing, but Novak, Roger and Rafa — he’s like a combination of all of them in one, with the RPMs he can put on the ball, the defense that he has like Novak, the feel that he has like Federer. To see that in one person on a tennis court is remarkable,” he added, highlighting the rare fusion of power, precision, and artistry in Alcaraz’s game.

Now, Alcaraz teams up with Jakub Mensik to face Team World’s Taylor Fritz and Alex Michelsen in the fourth match of Day One at the 2025 Laver Cup. As the heartbeat of Team Europe, he returns after powering his side with eight points last year.

The reigning world No. 1 has put together a blistering 2025 season, capturing seven titles, including Roland Garros, Rome, Cincinnati, and the US Open. His dominance on the court is as awe-inspiring as it is relentless.

His numbers only underscore his aura: 403 aces, 74% of first-serve points won, and a 45% break-point conversion across 640 opportunities. For Europe, Alcaraz is both anchor and spark, carrying the hopes of a continent on his shoulders.

But with the intensity of the Laver Cup bearing down, the question looms large: can the Spaniard deliver in the pressure cooker of the sport’s biggest team showdown, translating his solo brilliance into decisive victories for Team Europe?