John McEnroe on Carlos Alcaraz: “I’ve never seen a player this good at this age”

After seven years as Team World captain, John McEnroe returned to the Laver Cup this week—not on the sidelines, but as a spectator for the first time. And there’s one player he’s watching closely.

The former world No. 1 joined Steve Weissman and Jon Wertheim at the Tennis Channel Desk presented by On ahead of the tournament’s start in San Fransisco on Friday.

“It’s a lot less stressful!” McEnroe said with a laugh about his new role. “It’s a lot of fun to be in that locker room, though, you can’t beat it.”

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Now able to sit back and enjoy the festivities, McEnroe has been especially impressed by Carlos Alcaraz—the current world No. 1 and reigning Roland Garros and US Open champion.

I’ve watched tennis for 50 years… Of all the players I’ve ever watched, at this age, I’ve never seen a player this good and this complete. John McEnroe on Carlos Alcaraz, 22

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“How much time do we got?” McEnroe joked when asked what makes the 22-year-old from Spain so special. He first noticed Alcaraz as a rising 17-year-old and has now watched him become a six-time Grand Slam winner

“I mean, I’ve watched tennis for 50 years or longer… Of all the players I’ve ever watched, at this age, I’ve never seen a player this good and this complete for the last two or three years.”

McEnroe, the founder of John McEnroe Tennis Academy in New York, called Alcaraz “a breath of fresh air” and praised his game as a welcome contrast to the big-serve, baseline-heavy style that has dominated the ATP Tour in recent decades.

“Thank God for Carlos Alcaraz and what he’s bringing to the table,” McEnroe said. “The young kids always want to emulate the big boys. I’m hoping that they’re going to look at Carlos and what he does—how he loves to be aggressive and move forward—because we’ve lost a lot of that… But I think that’s going to change because of him.”

The seven-time Grand Slam singles champion also pointed to the growing rivalry between Alcaraz and Italy’s Jannik Sinner as a timely spark for men’s tennis.

With Roger Federer retired since 2022 and Rafael Nadal stepping away at the end of last year, Novak Djokovic remains the last member of the ‘Big Three’ still competing. But at 38, he hasn’t claimed a major since 2023 as he chases his 25th Grand Slam crown.

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Federer’s farewell at the 2022 Laver Cup—played alongside Nadal in doubles—came just weeks after Alcaraz lifted his first Slam trophy at the US Open. What might have been a crossroads moment for tennis is now remembered as the start of a new era.

Since then, Alcaraz and Sinner have combined for 10 Grand Slam titles, transforming the sport’s outlook.

“Talk about a breath of fresh air when we desperately needed it,” McEnroe said. “To have him and Jannik come in, and the other guys now have to chase them and try to catch up... It’s really awesome.”