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John McEnroe points out the problem which could stop Carlos Alcaraz reaching the levels of Roger Federer

Legendary tennis player John McEnroe has once again underscored the challenges facing Carlos Alcaraz in his quest to match the Grand Slam achievements of Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic. Despite praising the 23-year-old Spaniard as the most exciting talent in the sport, McEnroe highlighted a key obstacle: the rise of physically dominant players like Ben Shelton, who can disrupt Alcaraz’s game and force him into grueling matches.

This was evident during Alcaraz’s recent US Open return, where he lost a marathon five-set match to Shelton, extending into the early hours of the morning—a record for the tournament. Though Alcaraz showed resilience in his comeback after a five-month injury layoff, McEnroe noted his struggles against Shelton’s relentless energy and physicality, suggesting such encounters could hinder his long-term Grand Slam ambitions.

Alcaraz’s schedule remains packed as he prepares for the Shanghai Masters, where he’ll receive a first-round bye before facing Juan Manuel Cerundolo and Ignacio Buse in the early rounds. If he advances, Tommy Paul could await him in the quarterfinals, with Daniil Medvedev—a standout performer at the China Open—potentially looming as a quarterfinal opponent.

The Spaniard’s return to form and ability to navigate these high-stakes matchups will be critical in determining whether he can overcome the hurdles McEnroe has outlined.

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