Tommy Haas says Carlos Alcaraz is already primed to succeed Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal at the very top of tennis.
Alcaraz became the youngest men's world number one when he won his maiden grand slam title at the US Open last year.
The Spaniard missed this year's Australian Open due to an injury, allowing Djokovic to reclaim his place at the summit of the rankings with his 10th triumph in Melbourne.
Djokovic celebrated a record-breaking 378th week at number one on Monday, the day after Alcaraz had fallen short against Cameron Norrie in the Rio Open final.
Alcaraz, who has already won seven singles titles, battled through pain in Brazil but ultimately slipped to a 5-7 6-4 7-5 defeat against the opponent he beat in the Argentina Open final a week earlier.
With the 19-year-old having already reached 10 tour-level finals, though, former world number two Haas has no doubt Alcaraz is in line to enjoy success close to that of Djokovic and Nadal.
"Yes, you have to say that he already is [ready]," Haas told Stats Perform.
"He had an unbelievable year last year, right. I think he won a title down there in Rio, on clay then he came to Indian Wells playing extremely good tennis, losing a tough battle match against Rafa in the quarters.
"They played some incredible tennis and you could just tell the way he moves on the court, his mental toughness and the shot selection that he has, the repertoire there is, there's nothing really missing.
"Being that young sometimes can be like the only hindrance in my mind because maybe you want it too much, or you overthink things. Or maybe in this case, you clearly don't overthink things, and you just go out and play your best and fight and give it everything you have.
"A lot of respect obviously goes to his team, his family, his coach. He just kind of went on that run, winning [in] Madrid, in his home country. And then winning his first slam, the US Open and being the youngest world number one, so what a quick rise. Just unreal, I can't even imagine how his life has been turned upside down in many ways."
The only concern, as far as Haas sees it, is Alcaraz's injury worries.
"He's a guy that wants to stick around, and remain up there at the top for a very, very long time," Haas added.
"With his game, and his potential, if he stays healthy... that's the thing, he's been already a little bit injured at a young age. So, that's a little bit of a warning sign.
"If he can remain healthy, I think that's where the team is obviously very smart. I think they're trying to build up his body still, to sustain the crazy amount of travel and the stress on the body that tennis creates on you to make sure that he has a long career, because that's what everybody hopes and dreams for."
Slot's flying Premier League start unprecedented, claims Wright-Phillips
Shaun Wright-Phillips has been blown away by Arne Slot's remarkable start as Liverpool head coach.
Slot took over ahead of the season following Jurgen Klopp's departure.
Having enjoyed success at Feyenoord, Slot has hit the ground running at Anfield.
He has lost just one game so far, with Liverpool leading the Premier League by nine points, while they are top of the Champions League standings with a perfect record and are into the EFL Cup quarter-finals.
Slot's Reds are averaging 2.3 goals per game, while conceding just 0.6 on average, and former England international Wright-Phillips has been hugely impressed.
"I don't think I have [seen such a strong start]. He's done tremendously well in so many phases of the game," Wright-Phillips told Stats Perform.
"If you think of Klopp's style — high-risk, high-energy football — Slot hasn't changed too much but doesn't risk the ball as much.
"They still play a similar direct style, as we saw against City. It seemed like they went direct more often than in previous games.
"He seems to have a great handle on it. It'll be interesting to see how they bounce back after the Christmas period, which will be tough with Champions League games and back-to-back Premier League fixtures.
"He may not be used to playing that regularly, so it'll be interesting to see how he handles this period."
Liverpool are nine points clear at the top of the Premier League, which is their biggest lead in the competition since they won the title in the 2019-20 season.
According to the Opta supercomputer, the Reds now have an 83.7% chance of going on to win the title.
Wright-Phillips backs Man City to turn things around
Shaun Wright-Phillips has backed Manchester City to turn their form around and refused to rule them out of the Premier League title race.
City were beaten 2-0 by Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday, with Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah getting the goals for the rampant Reds.
Pep Guardiola's team are winless in seven games in all competitions and have now lost their last five league matches.
Sunday's defeat left them 11 points behind Liverpool after 13 games, and their title hopes are dangling by a thread. Indeed, the Opta supercomputer gives City just a 4.3% chance of retaining the title.
But former City winger Wright-Phillips thinks his old club are still in with a chance, if they rediscover their "addiction to winning".
He told Stats Perform: "I'm very confident [in Man City]. I've been lucky enough to have been around the pre-season camps over the last two years and seen the mentality of not only the players but the manager, the coaching staff, and even the staff behind the scenes.
"They've set such high standards for themselves in terms of what they've achieved over the last four years that any dip feels like something is really wrong. But a lot of the players, like some in other teams, didn't have a full pre-season and are still trying to get minutes under their belts and get fit.
"Pep rarely makes excuses. He deals with the hand he's got and tries to find solutions. But with players coming back into the fold, like Kevin De Bruyne getting minutes and Jeremy Doku coming on to liven up the game, you can see the threats are still there.
"Chances will come. And with a man like Erling Haaland up front, I don't think they’ll have much of a problem.
"It's just about getting that first win, regaining that feeling, hunger, and addiction to winning. Once they do, I think they'll be fine."
Guardiola faced chants of "getting sacked in the morning" from the Liverpool fans on Sunday, though smiled his way through it before holding up six fingers, representing his six Premier League titles.
He also did the same towards the travelling City fans at the end of the match.
"I think it's brilliant," said Wright-Phillips. "Things like that are good for the game. It's not him being arrogant, and it's not Liverpool fans being a nuisance.
"I've played at Anfield, and it's a daunting ground to go to, but I've always had a laugh with the fans about what they say.
"If I was on the bench, I'd turn around and just laugh at it. They have good banter, and as soon as Pep responded, they laughed, and it kind of went away.
"It shows there's mutual respect. There's not much more they could have sung about Pep apart from something funny because what he’s achieved within the game — period, not just in the Premier League — is phenomenal."
City host Nottingham Forest in their next Premier League game on Wednesday.
Salah clearly doesn't want to leave Liverpool – Wright-Phillips
Mohamed Salah clearly does not want to leave Liverpool despite recent comments made in public, according to Shaun Wright-Phillips.
The Egypt international is due to be out of contract at the end of the season and confirmed last week a new deal has yet to be offered.
Liverpool great Jamie Carragher called Salah "selfish" for speaking out on his future, but Wright-Phillips does not believe he did anything wrong.
"Personally, I think if you're doing an interview, and you're asked a question and you feel like answering it, there's nothing wrong with that," he told Stats Perform.
"For me, this is on Liverpool. Why would you wait so long to address one of the greatest players we've seen in the Premier League? Why wouldn't you make it clear that you want him to stay?
"I think Salah is trying to nudge them into action, to let them know he's ready and waiting. He wants clarity on his future because it's open right now."
Salah assisted Cody Gakpo's opener and converted a penalty in Sunday's 2-0 win over City, meaning he has now scored and assisted in 36 different Premier League games – the joint-most by a player in the competition's history, equalling Wayne Rooney's record.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the match, Salah again implied he expects this to be the last of his eight seasons at Anfield.
"I saw something on social media where he said something like, 'I played as if this was my last game at Anfield against Manchester City'," Wright-Phillips said.
"He's telling them they have do something about it. Clearly, he doesn't want to leave. If he did, he had the chance already, and he stayed. So, for me, he's well within his right to speak out."
GET IN THEREEE!!!!! #LIVMCI pic.twitter.com/NEhKA1wIhb
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 1, 2024
Salah now has 224 goals in 369 games for Liverpool, a club-record 166 of those coming in the Premier League, while his 75 assists in the competition is the ninth most of any player for a single club.
Wright-Phillips believes Salah is only getting better with age, making it even more important a resolution is found between the player and club.
"It's hard to say 'give him what he wants' [in terms of his contract demands] because I don't know Liverpool's rules or wage structures," he said.
"But one thing I can say is if you have a player like that, regardless of his age, the amount he runs, the end product he delivers – not just scoring goals but also creating them over the last two years – has been phenomenal.
"He's getting better and better as an all-round player. I think he's someone they 100% need to find a way to keep. Whatever they have to do, for me, they should keep him there.
"He's up there with the greatest players Liverpool has ever had, and they've had some unbelievable players. Salah stands toe-to-toe with them and doesn't seem to be slowing down.
"If anything, he's getting better. He hasn't lost any pace, and his hunger and desire to achieve personal and team goals at Liverpool just keep growing. I'd try my hardest to keep him."
8 - Mohamed Salah has scored or assisted in each of his last eight Premier League starts against Manchester City (six goals, four assists in total). Relentless.#LFC #MCFC pic.twitter.com/tI4UIVcjta
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 2, 2024
Salah is one of three first-team stars at Liverpool due to become a free agent in six months' time, along with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk.
Van Dijk put in a Man of the Match display in the win over City, which moved Liverpool nine points clear at the Premier League summit, and Wright-Phillips says it is equally important Liverpool convince him to stay.
"I'd say 1,000%. You don't find defenders like him very often," Wright-Phillips, a Premier League title winner with Chelsea in 2005-06, said. "The elegance he plays with – you rarely see him sprint, and yet he seems to be back to his best.
"He's perfect for the younger players, like [Jarell] Quansah, coming through. You need someone like him around the club.
"Of course, if Virgil wants to keep playing at a high level and Liverpool don't want to use him as much, then that's a different conversation. But from what I see, he's fit as a fiddle, raring to go, and focused. He wants this title this year.
"You have to keep players like that. It's what makes a club a bigger club – keeping those players who’ve been through the highs and lows with you.
"Van Dijk has been there for everything: the battles with City, the title races, the dips, and the comebacks. Players like him bring invaluable experience and knowledge to the club. You can't replace that."
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