Carlos Alcaraz: Mats Wilander says world No. 1 is 'so important for our sport' after Wimbledon first-round win

Mats Wilander has hailed Carlos Alcaraz as “so important for our sport” after watching him power his way past Jeremy Chardy in the first round of Wimbledon. The 20-year-old has taken tennis by storm over the last 18 months, winning his first Grand Slam title and getting to world No. 1.

Ad Not only has he collected plenty of silverware, but his electrifying brand of tennis has wowed crowds. WimbledonAlcaraz overwhelms Chardy to reach Wimbledon second round2 HOURS AGO His firepower and speed was far too much for Chardy as Alcaraz won in straight sets to advance to the second round. Eurosport expert Wilander says Alcaraz is unlike anybody he has seen before.

“He’s so easy to like when he doesn’t have a racquet in his hand and then you put a racquet in his hand and he starts moving and you hear the crowd. “I have never seen a tennis player that gets the reaction from a crowd during a point as much as Carlos Alcaraz. Of course Roger Federer at times when he comes up with tweeners or whatever, but you get so engaged with Alcaraz when you are watching him and he plays so many unbelievable points that you don’t see other players play.

“Then you add the speed, he can defend and hit the ball harder than anyone. He plays smart, he smiles during matches. I love him, he’s so important for our sport.” Wilander: Class act Federer took Wimbledon to the next level Alcaraz eases past Chardy to reach second round Alcaraz will face Alexandre Muller or Arthur Rinderknech as he looks to set up a final against Novak Djokovic that he says he “really wants”.

The world No. 1 blitzed through the first two sets against Chardy but faced more resistance in the third set and had to come from a break down to win. “In the third set it felt like Carlos