“Awful take” – Ex-American pro faces peak embarrassment as bold Carlos Alcaraz prediction backfires

September 12, 2025

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Former tennis pro Sam Querrey was humiliated as his bold ranking prediction on Carlos Alcaraz went terribly wrong. The Spaniard rose to the No. 1 spot on the PIF ATP rankings, outpacing Jannik Sinner, following his US Open title win on Sunday.

Alcaraz showed extraordinary skills, hitting 10 aces and winning 84 per cent of points on first serve, stripping arch-rival Sinner of his dreams of winning a third major title this season. He took a 6-2, 3-,6 6-1, 6-4 victory to win his second Grand Slam title this season and an overall sixth major title win.

Querrey, who, along with other former ATP stars, John Isner, Steve Johnson, and Jack Sock, runs the Nothing Major Podcast, predicted during November last year that Alcaraz would end the 2025 season at No. 5.

“I can see him ending next year at like five in the world. Not like two or three, five!” he said.

However, during the 2025 US Open debrief episode of their podcast, Johnson refreshed Querrey's memory about his earlier remark. A prompt apology by Querrey followed this, as he said:

“It was an awful take from me last year. Awful take! My apologies, Carlos. I was dead wrong! We swing and miss occasionally!”

Take a look at the conversation from a snippet posted by the show on their Instagram:

Rafael Nadal recently took a bold stance on Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner being labeled as the next 'Big 3', protesting against the comparison.

Carlos Alcaraz impressed with himself after US Open win

Carlos Alcaraz lifted the US Open trophy on September 8, for the second time in his career, since winning his first one in New York as a 19-year-old in 2022. After his win, the Spaniard admitted that he exceeded his own expectations with how things panned out for him this season.

Reclaiming the world No. 1 rank, the six-time Grand Slam champion, during the post-match press conference, said:

"Well, it's great when you achieve the goals you set up yourself at the beginning of the year. It feels amazing. So, since I got the chance to recover the No. 1, it was one of the first goals that I had during the season just to try to recover the No. 1 as soon as possible or end the year as a No. 1."

The 22-year-old hopes to continue his remarkable track record and will represent Team Europe at the Laver Cup, which starts on September 19.

About the author

Aatreyi Sarkar is a tennis journalist at Sportskeeda. Currently pursuing a degree in Comparative Literature from Jadavpur University and a U.S. State Department scholar at The University of Kansas, she blends her academic background with her passion for storytelling.

Aatreyi sources accurate information from social media platforms to stay updated on the latest developments and fan discussions. She strives to produce engaging, insightful, and experimental content that connects with readers, aspiring to make tennis more accessible and captivating for fans around the globe

She finds immense inspiration in Novak Djokovic, whose incredible comebacks and relentless determination motivate her to approach her work with the same passion. Roland Garros is her favorite tournament, cherished for its unique clay-court challenges and historical importance.

Though new to professional writing, Aatreyi has been an avid debater and quizzer since middle school, showcasing her analytical skills and creativity. Outside tennis, she is a passionate cricket fan, baker, and reader who enjoys exploring literature beyond academic constraints.

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