“Carlos Alcaraz is the only player I would pay a ticket for” – John McEnroe sends strongly-worded message about Spaniard after French Open heroics

Former player John McEnroe hailed Carlos Alcaraz for his athleticism and stated that he would pay to watch him play after the Big Three – Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic. Alcaraz emerged victorious as the French Open champion, lifting his fifth Grand Slam trophy, after defeating World No. 1 Jannik Sinner.

McEnroe, one of the most legendary players who dominated the tennis realm for over two decades, stays active even after retirement. He plays in senior events in the ATP Champions Tour and helped the US win five Davis Cup titles. Boasting seven Grand Slam titles in her repertoire, the 66-year-old often opines on players and matches besides commentating and covering major tournaments.

Recently, the 124th edition of the French Open concluded with Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz as the champion in the men’s singles, trouncing heavy favorite and 2025 Australian Open champion, Jannik Sinner. Though the Italian player, who became the first of his nation to be ranked on top, executed phenomenal ball-striking, Alcaraz’s prowess garnered praise from John McEnroe.

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In a recent update, he noted the difference in attributes of both, but ultimately stated that he would pay to watch the Spaniard's tennis after the Big Three, Federer, Djokovic, and Nadal.

"Both him and Alcaraz have unique elements. Carlos is the most talented young player I have ever seen hold a racket, Jannik is not far behind. Alcaraz is brighter, Sinner is more consistent. I am struck by the sound of Jannik's ball: I have never heard anything like it. Carlos is the greatest gift the post-Big Three generation could give us. And he is the only tennis player I would pay a ticket for.

McEnroe added the over-45 legends doubles title at the 2012 French Open, defeating Andres Gomez and Mark Woodforde with his brother and partner, Patrick.

John McEnroe revealed the rock band he would compare Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz to

John McEnroe, the only player to win over 70 titles across singles and doubles, held the No. 1 rank for 170 weeks. His rivalry with Jimmy Connor and Bjorn Borg resonates in the tennis world even now. Recently, after Carlos Alcaraz's Roland Garros heroics, the seven-time Grand Slam champion compared him and Sinner with respect to music bands.

"It's like choosing between the Beatles and the Stones. The Stones were unpredictable but sometimes the Beatles were better. We're talking about groups that, like Jannik and Carlos in tennis, have made history."

In 1999, John McEnroe was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

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About the author

Agnijeeta Majumder

Agnijeeta is a US Olympics journalist at Sportskeeda. She holds a Master’s degree in English and has worked as a school teacher, a blogger, a content writer and a sports writer over the past 5 years. A lover of high-adrenaline track and field events, she was also a sprinter during her school days.

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone happens to be her favorite Olympian, and the athlete’s feat of breaking four records within 13 months inspires her, apart from the American's body language on and off the track. Grant Hackett swimming with a partially dysfunctional lung and winning gold in Athens is her all-time favorite Olympic moment.

Agnijeeta believes that deriving of unique angles from podcasts and interviews carried out by Olympics.com, along with hype-building of potential Olympic events on social media can help fill the coverage gap during the off season.

When not at her work desk, Agnijeeta likes to sing and paint. She also plays string instruments like guitar and ukulele and is an avid player of word puzzles.

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