Carlos Alcaraz accused of 'sneaking' at Wimbledon as Roger Federer comparisons shut down
Carlos Alcaraz recently won a second Grand Slam of his career at Wimbledon
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Carlos Alcaraz 'sneaked' his way past Novak Djokovic in this month's Wimbledon final, according to former South African tennis player Robbie Koenig.
And the 52-year-old also believes the 20-year-old's victory isn't similar to Roger Federer's win over Pete Sampras back in 2001.
That year, Federer put Sampras to the sword with the Swiss maestro then proceeding to dominate the sport.
But Koenig thinks Djokovic can't be written off and Alcaraz's win doesn't signal a changing of the guard just yet.
Carlos Alcaraz was delighted after recently beating Novak Djokovic
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Speaking to the Tennis Channel, he said: "[A] couple of commentators here were talking about the Federer-Sampras match being similar to that.
"It’s not similar at all.
"Djokovic has won two majors here by the way and Alcaraz has just and only just sneaked out this one
"He's [Djokovic] has such a disrupted last couple of years that, if he’s going to be in full flow and play the schedule he wants for the next three or four years he’s going to be challenging at the shop.
"I mean look how easily cruised through the draw at Wimbledon."
The South African added: "But there's definitely no passing of the torch I don’t even think it’s remotely comparable to the Sampras-Federer match that everybody was talking about."
Alcaraz's match with Djokovic went the distance.
The Spaniard was outplayed in the first set but ended up fighting his way to a 1-6, 7-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 win.
As for Federer in 2001, the Swiss star was just 19 at the time.
Sampras was the overwhelming favourite to win Wimbledon that year, having won the competition four times in a row prior.
But Federer claimed a 7-6 5-7 6-4 6-7 7-5 win to rock Centre Court and usher in a new era for the sport.
Meanwhile, regarding Alcaraz, tennis icon Jimmy Connors thinks the 20-year-old can dominate providing he doesn't get complacent.
“If Carlos Alcaraz plays until he is 33. So, he has got 13 years. Let's just say he plays for 12 more years, that is 48 more slams.
"And if he doesn’t get too full of himself, I would say 15.”
He added: “That is if he doesn't think he doesn't have to go out and work hard and it's gonna come easy.
Carlos Alcaraz and Roger Federer comparisons have been shut down by a tennis commentator
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“He needs to continue what he's doing now and looks like he will.
"He has that passion, that smile, that excitement, and that feel for what he's doing."
Alcaraz will be hoping to win a third Grand Slam when the US Open commences next month.
As the defending champion, he'll certainly be among the favourites.
Djokovic is primed to return to Flushing Meadows for the first time in two years after the US lifted a ban on visitors without the coronavirus vaccine.