Carlos Alcaraz could win the upcoming US Open, as applying logic to players who break conventional wisdom is a fool’s errand.
That is according to tennis content creator Gill Gross, who says there have been a wealth of examples that show tennis greats can win the biggest tournaments just when they have been written off.
For instance, Roger Federer won the 2017 Australian Open, beating long-time nemesis Rafael Nadal in the final, after six months out with a knee injury.
At the same tournament, Serena Williams won the women’s singles title, also at age 35, despite being eight weeks pregnant with her first child, Olympia.
Nadal won the 2022 French Open despite being on crutches shortly after and two months on from having knee surgery, Novak Djokovic finally achieved his heart’s desire by winning gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
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So when Alcaraz announced he would compete at this year’s US Open, despite not playing since mid-April with a wrist injury, Gross suggests that it would not be wise to dismiss his chances in New York.
He said on his YouTube channel, “You do have to be careful to not apply regular player logic to a very irregular player. Do not apply logic to a player who defies logic regularly. That’s what the greats do.
“Roger Federer won the Australian Open coming off of a knee surgery. Rafael Nadal won Roland Garros when he was on crutches the week before. Serena Williams won the Australian Open when pregnant. The greats don’t follow the rules, they break them.
“Conventional wisdom doesn’t work. Logic doesn’t always work. Novak Djokovic hadn’t won a title in a year. He won the gold medal, right? It doesn’t necessarily always work that way. So that’s where I’m at with Alcaraz.
“I’m not making a prediction here, but at the end of the day, I’m not that surprised he’s playing, and I think he can win it. I think he can win it. Not a prediction, but don’t count him out. Don’t count the greats out in general.”
While Gross makes a good point, some are a bit more weary about the returning 23-year-old. For instance, Greg Rusedski felt that the Spaniard should not be playing at the US Open, saying how best of five set tennis is like jumping into the deep end after playing so little tennis of late.
Andy Roddick believes that as the seven-time major winner is showing up at Flushing Meadows, his team may feel there will be next to no chance of him worsening his wrist injury.
Alcaraz is set to partner Serena in the US Open mixed doubles this week but question marks still remain over whether he will play in the singles over the next few weeks.
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