Hey everyone….a post-Miami Mailbag….
Lots of questions and remarks about Miami. Carlos Alcaraz, of course, won the men’s title, beating Casper Ruud in the final. That Alcaraz possesses vast potential has been an open secret for years. That he is realizing this bottomless potential still a month shy of turning 19, well, that is remarkable. I liken this to Nadal in 2005 insofar as it feels like an exercise in glimpsing the future. The Alcaraz game is complete. His work ethic is complete. There is style. There is also substance—not least this unscripted bit of sportsmanship. A few cynics have murmured “let’s see him do it in best-of-five format,” but his game and constitution seem perfectly well-suited to knock-down-drag-outs. Nadal and Djokovic will be your French Open favorites. But how is this kid not third?
On the women’s side, Iga Swiatek played up her ranking. The new No.1 committed to the role, winning her third straight event. She’s ancient compared to Alcaraz…she will turn 21 during the French. And she, too, is build to last. She doesn't just have an athletic, durable, power-hungry game, but also real perspective and likability.
