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Rick Macci has become the latest person to hit back at Boris Becker after the German claimed that Carlos Alcaraz failed to progress in 2023. Becker had already come under fire from Nick Kyrgios, who claimed that the 20-year-old would \u201cdestroy\u201d the six-time Major champion. And renowned tennis coach Macci has now explained why Becker\u2019s verdict is wrong, putting Alcaraz up with Novak Djokovic as the main Grand Slam contenders in 2024.<\/p>\n
Becker has become the subject of a pile-on following his comments about Alcaraz\u2019s season. Although the Spaniard was able to win his second Grand Slam title by beating Djokovic at Wimbledon, the 56-year-old thought that Alcaraz had stagnated while his young rivals raised their game. While the German was impressed with Alcaraz\u2019s achievements, he claimed that there was still work to do.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnyone can have a good tournament or a good year from time to time, but maintaining that level over the years is the real challenge,\u201d he told Eurosport. \u201cMy favourite saying in this context is, \u2018the locker room never sleeps\u2019. It means that the other players have realised how you have to play against Alcaraz to have a chance against him. That’s what happened. Other players have developed and Alcaraz hasn’t.\u201d<\/p>\n
But Becker has since received some backlash for his comments, with Hall of Fame tennis coach Macci explaining why he couldn\u2019t agree with the retired former No 1. \u201cI think I read Boris Becker said \u2018he didn\u2019t get any better\u2019. I disagree,\u201d the American told Tennis Infinity.<\/p>\n
Click here to join our WhatsApp community to be the first to receive breaking and exclusive tennis news.<\/strong><\/p>\n Just in <\/strong> Raducanu plots Australian Open comeback as star appears on list with a catch[LATEST] <\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cI think he got better by losing, even though not by the result. He got better because it will motivate him to work on the mental game and solidify things a little bit, and I think the best is yet to come from Carlos Alcaraz.\u201d<\/p>\n A former mentor to the Williams sisters, Andy Roddick and Maria Sharapova, Macci also tipped the world No 2 to be alongside Djokovic as the men to beat in 2024. He added: \u201cRemember, he\u2019s 20 years old. I mean, people forget this, and you\u2019re gonna have some ups and downs. In my opinion, he\u2019s getting better, but here\u2019s what I mean by that.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/72\/590x\/secondary\/5100509.jpg?r=1701788868336\")
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