Alcaraz was doubted by a tennis legend who claimed he wouldn't make it past the second round of next year's Australian Open; let's see what netizens have to say.

Overnight, Alcaraz and tennis great Connors, two seemingly unrelated figures, surprisingly crossed paths!

Mentioning Connors, tennis enthusiasts definitely know him well! This legendary figure, revered as an ancient god by fans and netizens, holds 109 titles, a record regarded as almost unattainable by any player. Even the mighty Djokovic has yet to break it, and it’s doubtful the younger generation will either.

So, how did 22-year-old Alcaraz and 73-year-old Connors become linked? It relates to the conclusion of the 2025 season arrangements for the Spaniard.

Two things stood out most about Alcaraz in the 2025 tennis season: first, winning eight titles, leading all male players; second, boldly criticizing ATP’s mandatory participation rules due to the packed schedule and demanding reforms.

Many believe that after playing so many matches in 2025 and complaining about exhaustion from the long schedule, Alcaraz should rest during the off-season to prepare for his Grand Slam ambitions next year. However, media reports about his actions caused an uproar.

It is now publicly known that this month Alcaraz accepted invitations to two exhibition matches: one in New Jersey and the other in Miami, both in the United States.

Because these two exhibitions are scheduled very close together, many outside observers think that such a tight commercial schedule will surely tire Alcaraz out.

When this topic became hot in public opinion, Connors had something to say.

“It will be interesting to see how these players ring in the new year and how many exhibitions Carlos will play next month,” Connors said bluntly. Though the off-season is a time for mental and physical rest, it’s also a great time to earn money. He’s very curious about how much Alcaraz plans to make playing so many exhibitions. To this tennis legend, it seems the Spaniard never thinks he’s earned enough.

When Connors made these remarks during a podcast chat with his son Brett, many thought the legend was just teasing Alcaraz about the exhibitions and that the joke would end there. But perhaps the old man got carried away and went on to say even more explosive things.

“Of course, the more money the better. Carlos plays so many exhibitions, but will he go to the Australian Open with a tired body and mind? He’s constantly traveling, attending too many exhibitions and commercial events. You earn a lot, but then you might lose in the second round of the Australian Open.” What started as a joke about Alcaraz’s money-making turned into a controversial prediction when Connors said he might not get past the second round at the Australian Open, instantly sparking heated debate.

Why did fans and netizens react so strongly to Connors’ words? Is it just because the topic was sensational? Certainly not that simple.

Alcaraz, currently a six-time Grand Slam champion with titles at the French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open, is missing only the Australian Open to complete the career Grand Slam. Spanish supporters saw next year’s Australian Open as a critical moment for his Grand Slam quest, but Connors’ comment that he might not get past the second round was clearly not a good omen, causing strong emotions.

Some bluntly said that Connors’ pessimism about Alcaraz’s Australian Open prospects next year is poor sportsmanship; just because the Spaniard played some exhibitions doesn’t mean you should say such unlucky things.

Others feel Connors was too hasty to judge Alcaraz negatively just because he played several exhibitions during the off-season.

Everyone knows how important next year’s Australian Open is for Alcaraz, and the Spaniard himself must be aware of this. This also suggests that his participation in exhibitions is carefully measured, not just driven by money to the point of exhaustion that would jeopardize his Grand Slam ambitions.

In other words, Alcaraz’s playing in exhibitions will not affect his performance at next year’s Australian Open; the Spaniard knows exactly what he’s doing, and Connors is simply worrying unnecessarily! (Source: Tennis Home, Author: Moon River’s Starry Sky)