His distinct success with this shot all comes down to his disguise, which is near perfect, and can be accredited in big part to his forehand grip, he keeps the frame very open and arm very straight when hitting those monstrous forehands, and with an already open grip its very easy to switch from extending through to pulling away and cutting it across, he's obviously spent a lot of time mastering his touch as well, I don't see many counters for his drop shot because of how he can switch so easily, and because of the devastation his forehand can inflict when he chooses to attack which forces opponents behind the baseline, I think Kygrios was using a very similar style with those drop shots before Alcaraz came to the scene, the massive forehand then drop-shot combo to disguise, the only different was Kyrgios needed to change grips and position of the frame to hit them, whereas Alcaraz doesn't, and I'd say Alcaraz touch is better, all and all this really is revolutionising tennis in the sense that players will feel they need to start implementing this style into their games to keep themselves competitive seeing the amount of success Alcaraz is having!

Alcaraz's dropshot is incredible, but I think it's a true testament to his skill that everyone knows he can hit that dropshot whenever he wants, but his groundstrokes are so good that his opponents still choose to stay way back. This means his dropshots, while still devastating, don't always have to be perfect. It's about the doubt he leaves in players when he faces them. If you hit soft to Alcaraz at all, you're either going to get bludgeoned with a groundstroke or you're getting dropped. The tactics and the disguise at play here are just incredible, and the most terrifying part is that he's still got 10-15 years left to get better.

What's new with Alcaraz is that he is a full on power player and a master of the drop shot. Historically, many "power players" have seemed so pumped up on adrenaline that even the possibility of a delicate strategic shot seemed to elude them. Alcaraz seems to be leading the trend of using a creative combination of full on power & delicacy which for me is one of the things that makes his play so thrilling.

He was killing Medvedev with this one

What's even crazier is that this compilation is only highlights from just a 1 year span

When I first saw how Carlos uses the dropshot as a weapon i thought "players are just too fit for that" long-term. Now he has revolutionized the shot as a weapon. Uncanny touch to go with dazzling power. When your drop shot is a winner against two greats, you know you're that good.

He does it more successfully because he hits so hard on other shots. It's the contrast that makes it work. Someone who doesn't hit as hard wouldn't have as much success on the drop shots... Not that his drop shots aren't great, just noting that they don't exist in a vacuum.

Favorite part about this shot is he usually uses it in the tight and biggest moments. Switches up and gives opponents one more thing to think about during the tight moments when their minds are already usually overthinking and going a mile a minute. It's the contrast from his usual touch to power. Just such a dynamic style of play. Love watching Carlos and everything he's bringing now to the sport

Raz, ever since Federer retired i didn't think I'd keep up with tennis. For a few months i didn't, but your content has kept me in the world of tennis and for that I'm grateful.

After Indian Wells, Medvedev said Alcaraz hits harder than anyone in the tour right now. His drop shots are a beautiful change of pace. So fun to watch Carlos play.

Isn't anyone going to talk about the TREMENDOUS confidence that he has in his game? Using dropshots in truly important points and moments of the match...

What sets his technique apart is that long and smooth follow-through. So many players play a drop shot like a truncated swing, unconsciously associating the abrupt truncation with disguising the shot. But, of course, the trick is disguising your take-back, not chopping off the swing. His smooth follow-through also gives him access to more side spin and sets him up technically for that gorgeous “inside-out drop”-which isn’t a shot you see in a lot of player’s repertoire. But Alcaraz plays it like he has all the time in the world… like a smooth, full-length, slow-motion forehand slice that doesn’t need disguising once it’s set in motion (which, of course, it doesn’t… once the disguised take-back skips the drop phase and yields into a slice the cat is out of the bag anyhow). And even if it did telegraph it (which he doesn’t), I don’t even think he gives an F if his opponents reach it, because it’s so ruthlessly effective in forcing his opponents to play closer to the baseline than they are comfortable for the rest of the match. Plus, it’s also just so psychologically devastating because it obliterates the deep defensive position as a “safe/r space” on court, making even battle-hardened counterpunchers anxious. Just beautiful to watch.

Don't forget that often, he also uses the dropshot as a bait, when the rival reaches it and shoot back, he often follows it with a lob right on the line.

He is world #1 because of that overall game and style, and that drop shot is the cheery on top.

First step is Have the opponent respect your forehand.

it is indefensible because he pushes you back on the baseline with his power and aggression. Truly special talent with so much intelligence at that age.. wild..

Carlos could have played any sport as he is such an athletic beast. Thank you to Carlos to making tennis beautiful and exciting again!

best forehand drop shots ever

In addition to his killer baseline forehand and drop shot contrast, his awareness of the position of his opponent in the middle of the fierce rally is just awesome .. he reads opponent in split second and use this lethal weapon promptly.. at the moment, I just can't see any answer to this challenge.. nobody has shown how to handle this.. It's something novel in tennis, and if not countered soon, Alcaraz will be like Michaelangelo of tennis, perfect combination of dedication innovation, and excellence

I love watching him play this shot. In the Wimbledon semi final this year against Medvedev he pulled off some amazing drop shots. My children were watching, and even they, who don't care much about tennis, were excited to see it. Anyone who plays tennis knows how incredibly difficult it is to get this shot right. It requires perfect control of the racket and real confidence.

I think the beauty of this shot is tht he keeps it relatively low n puts so much spin on it tht he deadens the ball...it doesn't travel!!! Brilliant👍🏾👏🏾

The dropshot has been around since the beginning of tennis. Now that players camp out on the baseline it is just amazing that it took them so long to use it. They move great from side to side but not so great forward. Finally someone is taking them out of their comfort zone. Everyone will start using the drop shot a lot more. It has already started.

Its so great to (finally) see a top pro using this type of old school finesse shot to win big points in tournaments. I will root for any player that mixes it up like this instead of the typical bludgeoning the ball from the baseline that the majority of players use all the time.

Thanks for putting those 3 drops shots in a row against Meddy. Killer!

Great to see agressive tennis prevailing

He has revolutionize drop shot single handedly. He is not even afraid to use it on clay courts. Now-a-days all the players are trying it. RF also had great control in drop shots, but he never used it frequently.

Best drop shot I've ever seen in more than 20 years watching tennis.

I play a BUNCH of drop shots in our Saturday group. Love 'em!

Just for comparison's sake, Federer's drop shots were a thing of beauty, but if I'm not mistaken, they weren't as constructed as Carlos's, he sends you to the back of the court with a massive forhand, and then destroys you with his signature shot, what a treat to watch, it must be so devastating to be on the other side of the net when he decides to use it...

the huge variety in alcaraz´s game provoques in the opponent the constant sensation of uncertainty and doubt...

I've wondered for years why players don't utilize the drop shot more when opponents stand so far back. Love seeing this!

The serve and drop shot. A new kind of 1-2 punch in tennis.

The best dropshot on tour right now

Ferrero used this disguised dropshot to win the 2003 Roland Garros, being Alcaraz's coach, he must have convinced him to use it now

He makes great players look foolish with this shot. As others have said, it's his ability to alternate between unprecedented power and deft touch that makes this shot such a killer. The opponent doesn't know whether to be on the back foot or the front foot and that uncertainty is what's deadly.

Greatest athlete ever potential...so complete yet so young. Ridiculous player.

Alcaraz: "What's the matter, Rafa? I thought you were fast 🤣😂"

My favorite tennis player. Thank God after Roger retired , we got lucky to get Carlos. He and Bublik are so much fun to watch. The combination of them is my style of teaching and play. I use reversed grips for drop shots so the brush goes around more half of the ball so depending on my wrist action (similar to pitching)I can make the ball come back to the net , die in the box or slide parallel the net on the other court. Who inspired me to change the continental grip to reversed grips /SW for Bh drop shot and Eastern BH for Fh grip drop shot , was Dolgopolov , the master of spins. I have a feeling that Carlos switches lightly the grip .

he'll put you off wide and just when his opponent thinks he'll go cross-court with a hard strike, he'll drop it off opposite where his opponent thinks the ball would go! In my decades of watching tennis, I've never seen a player make so many drop shots and actually be a part of their arsenal.

Also helps that he can hit the ball so damn hard, add to that deception, what a weapon he has, great to see

Till date I thought Djokovic's drop shot was the best but alcaraz's drop shot is DELICIOUS!!!

As a Kei fan I find Alcaraz's dropshots to be quite similar to that of Nishikori: perfect disguise and timing. But honestly Alcaraz has masterclass precision on top of that which Kei couldn't achieve, and I think everyone can agree that he is the undisputed GOAT in drops

I think Alcaraz's game is a perfect exploitation of how a lot of modern tennis is dictated at the baseline. There are many fantastic players on the tour at the moment but there aren't many that seem truly comfortable at the net. Tennis has always evolved and moved with the times, whether that be with court conditions, balls, racket technology and trailblazers. You need to be an excellent all court player that can dictate at the baseline and at the net to beat Alcaraz at his current best, and there aren't many of those around at the moment. Could we start seeing them in response to Alcaraz?

His forehand is so big pushing the opponent so far back. Makes his drop shot so deadly

EXCELLENT 👌👌👌... Great control over the ball... particularly in controlled drop shots...he has mastered it par excellence... 👌👌👌

The title is quite an overstatement. But because I think that since Federer no one had been able to put together such a convincing offensive game, I will be content with that👍

I can watch this lad all day. Mesmerising ❤

Tennis really is a game for the lifetime, thank you so much to help me improve my tennis.

Some of the best tennis I have ever seen right there.......

Converted Federer fan here. Hitting all those clean winners with a drop shot has to make Carlos's life a lot easier. Brilliant player! 😎👍

Thanks for the great video!

This dude is 100% the next tennis superstar he will be the new benchmark if he can overhaul novak in majors (which is doable) he is an outstanding talent 😮

Lol the way fognini walks away😂😂

so good to see this future dominant player doing so well at Wimbledon '23 with his power but his beautiful finesse. A star is born.

That drop shots!!!!!😮😮

Great collection of dropshots Raz. You'll have to add some of the 10 or more that he executed to perfection today during the Barcelona Final against Tsitsipas

The disguise is so good. Not forgetting the thunderous forehand. Over commit in either and you are burnt 🔥

This is tennis. Well done man’

That’s such a common sense shot. I don’t understand why it’s not used more.

That's why Pancho was a serve volly guy. He didn't allow anyone to get away with that. Try that on him and he drop shots you back but even better

Carlos will win everything for the next Decade or so. Like a Panther about the Court, with very very good Racket control, those drop shots ? Outstanding tennis.

Qué manera de jugar tan elegante y letal tiene Carlos; además de efectivo su tenis es muy bonito.

Lots of backspin like in table tennis. Brutal ❤

Great technique and follow through with the raquet.

Vamos Carlos ❤

Been on a tennis court myself for over 55 years and rarely watch the current tennis players. I'm sick of the baseline game. Just waiting for the opponent to make a mistake. A kind of trench warfare. Defend and just defend. Where have the attackers gone. This kid is a breath of fresh air for tennis with his unexpected strokes and drop shots.

Its impossible to predict when he’s going to do it

This guy has every tool.

Worthy lad to succeed Djokovic and Fedal and give tennis new level in following years.

Incredible shot that can be devastating to an opponent. He kind of has brought it back. So much so that since Indian Wells I have seen Sinner & Medvedev using it more.

Power and finesse - an unbeatable combo.

Yes, its probably the best forehand drop shot of all time. At the moment Alcaraz and Djokovic have implemented drop shots at the highest level. Djokovic mostly with the backhand and Alcaraz with the forehand. But Alcaraz more and more implements the backhand dropshot also. Because he has top 3 most powerfull and precise groundstrokes, he forces his opponents to react one way or the other, which makes the dropshot even more powerfull. There is absolutely nothing you can do against this dropshot as an opponent when he is in shape. If you react to early and run forward he will just go for the winner left or right instead of the dropshot. And you, as an opponent will look silly running forward.

Remember back in the 90's and 00's when it was nothing but power shots from the baseline? SOOO glad that started to change and now we have this master of the drop shot.

As a tennis coach I have noticed that Alcaraz does a little 'hop' before executing a forehand drop-shot. I wonder when the pros are going to pick that signal up ?

The way he holsters the gun at 0:27!

Correct . Best drop shot ever. 😊❤

W O W In nearly fifty years of watching tennis I've not seen a drop shot as lethal as that. First, the disguise and then unlike anyone else he doesn't bring the racket face down against the ball at speed to get back spin and YET it just dies over the net. Ridiculously good. Quite happy for him to be the future rival of Medvedev at the top when the Big Two go.

Alcaraz plays very well. Vamos Carlitos!

He has a lot of confidence in that shot and it has given him good results. The summary is very good, he has executed that shot with the best players and the result has been positive

His full force forehand and forehand dropshot motion is almost identical almost until the end of the shot. He's a master of disguise. The opponent should have a really sharp eye to distinguish that.

Tennis power with badminton tactic... brilliant..

not gonna lie. i hope alcaraz will keep improving and take over tennis. whatever shots it is. im sure he already have the mental game.

Es lo mejor que he visto en TENIS, en mis sesenta años de vida. Y he visto mucho. Dios te bendiga hijo.

Jerzy Janowicz was doing The same combination back in The day and it was superb and entartaining to watch - young talent toying with top class opponents. Sadly his ego and mentality were his biggest weaknesses so he didnt amount to anything extraordinary. Carlitos is a completely dofferent story though, he is going to be a legend, there”s very little doubt about that

What makes the shot even harder and nearly impossible to get there in time is Alcaraz has directs it to the sides

smart and intelligent weapon used with sublime technique and incredible court awareness by a 19 year old!

Power and precision

Great disguise for his drop shots

soul crushing shots

Excellent Move !

insane control

Great video ❤

His drop shot is working very well because of his powerful ground strokes. It's like a slow poison from a person who is also having sword. In both cases victim is going to die.

He uses the drop shot at the perfect moment, when he’s playing chess and they’re playing Connect 4. 😂😂😂

His touch is incredible

vraiment bravo carlito

He uses this shot like Federer did. Great disguise, and knows when to use it.

Oh why didn't we get a Federer - Alcaraz match at least once... Yes, it probably would be a massacre and end in 40-50 minutes, but it would still steal the show...

En mis 36 años que tengo... Jamas habia visto una derecha tan potente...y unas dejadas tan perfectas.....gracias Carlitos

I haven't followed tennis in over a decade, maybe I'm wrong, but he's very surgical like I remember Federer was.