Former World No. 4 Pat Cash, renowned for his 1987 Wimbledon singles title and his exceptional serve-and-volley style, has made a surprising declaration about the best grass-court player he has ever witnessed. Despite the legendary careers of Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, Cash has named Carlos Alcaraz as the standout performer on grass.
Alcaraz’s Dominance on Grass
After Carlos Alcaraz secured his second consecutive Wimbledon title in 2024, Cash hailed the young Spaniard as the finest player on the surface. Speaking to Sky Sports Tennis via Tennis365.com, Cash emphasized, “He hasn’t got a weakness. I almost think he is one of the best […] the best player I have ever seen on grass at his best.” He reiterated, “Ever seen, and I am talking about ever seen.”
Cash elaborated on Alcaraz’s unique ability to blend the strengths of tennis greats like Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. “Because he is a young guy, he has taken the best of Rafa [Nadal], the best of Federer, and he has been able to adapt that. Without these great players, he wouldn’t have had that, and he admits that. He said without Rafa, ‘I wouldn’t be where I am,’ but he has just taken the best of everything and somehow at the age of 21 has put it all together.”
Impressive Grass-Court Record
Although Alcaraz has only played a handful of 27 elite matches so far in the grass court, he has done unprecedentedly well: Two Wimbledon wins, beating the seven-time champion Novak Djokovic in both 2023 and 2024 finals, and taking the Queen's Club Championship in 2023. His success rate on grass is worthy of admiration, standing at 87%-the same as that of Federer. However, Federer accomplished it over 221 matches (192 wins), while Alcaraz has done so in half the time.
The Legacy of Grass-Court Greats
Grass courts are among the least common surfaces in modern tennis, with a short season and a playing style that has evolved significantly. The traditional serve-and-volley approach, once synonymous with grass-court tennis, has become rare. Despite this, several players have left an indelible mark on the surface. Names like Roger Federer, Pete Sampras, Bjorn Borg, and Novak Djokovic are often associated with grass-court excellence.
Federer remains the statistical leader on grass, holding the record for the most Wimbledon titles (8) and the most grass-court titles overall (19), including a record-breaking 10 titles at Halle. Djokovic, often linked with hard courts, has also made significant strides on grass, coming close to Federer’s dominance. He has defeated Federer in three Wimbledon finals, while Federer managed to beat him only once in a semifinal.
The Future of Grass-Court Tennis
This year, Djokovic stands a chance to draw level with Federer on eight Wimbledon victories. Alcaraz, having won back-to-back titles at Wimbledon, now stands to challenge for yet another consecutive one. His meteoric ascent and quick adaptation onto grass have already established him as one of the elite.
Pat Cash's endorsement of Carlos Alcaraz as the finest grass-court player he has ever seen only serves to strengthen the narrative of the Spaniard's extraordinary talent and potential. With legends like Federer and Djokovic setting unique standards in the game, Alcaraz has adopted the best traits of his predecessors and thereby has emerged as a true big-match player on grass. With this unfolding career, Alcaraz's influence on the sport is still proliferating, thus holding promising prospects for grass-court tennis.
