“I’ve dreamed of this since the beginning of everything”

Date:

After winning the US Open and becoming the youngest world number one in history, the Murcian thanked his family and first remembered the victims of 9/11 in New York

He suffered physically and mentally, especially in the second set of the final and for much of the third, but Carlos Alcaraz was able to understand in time at Flushing Meadows that to win a Grand Slam you don’t just have to have fun on the field, but also suffer, cling to the New York cement, put balls without taking so much risk, or play so beautifully, and wear out an opponent as consistent as the Norwegian Casper Ruud.

Since he won two unfavorable set balls and swept his opponent 7-1 in the tiebreak of the third, the Murcian was back to himself and launched himself in pursuit of his extraordinary overall win on the largest tennis podium in the world. delivered to the Spaniards in the Arthur Ashe Coliseum for 25,000 people. Alcaraz plays, wins, has fun, learns to suffer a little more every day and to be patient, and he is a leader, a man who transmits the qualities of a champion and reaches audiences around the world.

Juan Carlos Ferrero, his coach, is a quiet guy. He asked his team for calm as his pupil flew onto the track in the final race, on his way to the world number one. It was 1:38 in the morning when Alcaraz got ready to serve to win. His trainer motioned for him to take a deep breath. The first time he failed, the second time he didn’t. At just 19 days, four months and six days, Carlitos was already a legend, the youngest number one in history, ahead of Australian Lleyton Hewitt.

Once the feat was accomplished, he threw himself to the ground, covered his face up and down, greeted his rival warmly, shared a brief dialogue, and ran up the stairs to cuddle and cry with his people. Unleashed emotion. It was worth it. Back on the track, he put his hand to his heart and thanked the crowd. Fourth Spaniard in history to reach the world throne.

Before the ceremonial awards ceremony and the usual heavy speeches from each other, he spoke briefly with American John McEnroe, a legend who was crowned four times at the US Open. He took the championship trophy while the signs on the track could read ‘Bravo Carlitos’ with reflective white letters on a blue background.

The loser spoke first, an educated and civilized man who was the first to commemorate the victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks on such an important day. “I am sorry to have lost this final and also the Roland Garros final against Rafa Nadal, but very happy with how the season has gone,” he said. “I appreciate the effort my family has made to get here. It can’t be, but I will keep fighting to win a Grand Slam and become number one,” he added with a smile.

“Congratulations on being the champion and the youngest number one in history,” the master of ceremonies congratulated him. “It’s a special day for everyone and I also want to send a reminder to the victims of 9/11,” Carlitos replied, referring to that terrible day for humanity when he was not even born. “I am fulfilling a dream that I have had since I was a child and I owe it to my entire family and to the people who have supported me all along,” he added. He acknowledged that it was a very tough tournament with three matches of five sets and the last four, but insisted that “this is not the time to be tired.”

He got on much better with Spanish, the language in which he spoke to his compatriots. “A lot of people have come to see and cheer me on on this special day and the truth is that the love I have received from day one here has been incredible. It’s probably been the atmosphere I’ve enjoyed most on a tennis court. Thank you very much to all of you,” he emphasized. And he got the cup from McEnroe. The night was young for Carlitos, starting in El Palmar.

Now that he has calmed down, he was interviewed by Álex Corretja on Eurosport and made an analysis of what this success means: «The truth is that it is incredible to have this cup in my hands and to be able to touch number one. It’s something I’ve dreamed about from the very beginning and worked really hard for. It’s something I can never forget.”

More in a sports key, he confessed what he had suffered to beat Ruud. «I got him the first set because I served quite well, but he played better. I was very tense in the first two sets, also in a good part of the third, but in the end I managed to calm my nerves a bit and play deeper. It’s been a very tough rival against whom I know how to suffer,” he explained.

What went through your mind in the last game when you took pay to win? “Honestly, I’ve thought about surrendering and doing it right, which Ferrrero always tells me, but it wasn’t easy. More than a wrist problem, my legs were heavy,” he acknowledged. It won’t be the last time you feel the same. A legend is born.

Source: La Verdad

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Share post:

Subscribe

Popular

More like this
Related