The Argentine Open will be the stage that will mark the return to the slopes of Carlos Alcarazcurrently number two in the world, after the injury he suffered in the first days of the year postponed the start of his 2023 season.
The 19-year-old from Murcia, winner of five titles last year, including the US Open, arrived this Friday in the capital of Argentina accompanied by his team, led by Antonio Martínez Cascaleswho will act as a coach in the Argentine Open 250 and also in the Rio Open, a 500 where he will defend the title.
His regular coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero, will replace Cascales for the Acapulco ATP and the first two Masters 1000s in Indian Wells and Miami.
‘Charly’ Alcaraz injured the semimembranosus muscle in his right leg on January 4 during the final stage of a training session with American Darwin Blanch at the Equelite Academy in Villena.
After almost 100 days since his last official fight, last November in Paris-Bercy, Alcaraz will be looking to reclaim the reigns of the world circuit, now in the hands of Novak Djokovicjust won the last Australian Open.
“Alcaraz’s presence was a surprise to us. We always strive to have the best possible. I am encouraged to say that this is one of the best draws that our beloved tournament has had in its history. We see the enthusiasm in the audience that I and my entire team share. It will be an unforgettable tournament,” said tournament director Martín Jaite.
The twenty-third edition of the Argentina Open, which begins this Saturday with qualifying and ends on Sunday, February 19, when the final will be played at the Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club, It also counts among its stars the British Cameron Norrie (11), the Italian Lorenzo Musetti (18) and the local Diego Schwartzman (28).
The list of references to play in the main draw also includes locals Francisco Cerúndolo (31) and Sebastián Báez (47)the Spaniards Albert Ramos-Viñolas (54) and Pedro Martínez (72) and the Austrian Dominic Thiem (96), among others.
The tournament in Argentina has leading winners in Argentine Guillermo Vilas, with eight crowns, joined by Spaniards Carlos Moya and David Ferrer, with three each.
Among its most famous champions are Czech Ivan Lendl (1981), Brazilian Gustavo Kuerten (2001), Thiem (2016 and 2018) and Norwegian Casper Ruud (2020 and 2022).with locals Guillermo Coria (2000 and 2004), Gastón Gaudio (2007), David Nalbandian (2008) and Diego Schwartzman (2021).
The last edition recorded one of the most exciting moments in Argentine tennis with the final retirement of Juan Martín Del Potrowho fell in the first round against his compatriot Federico Delbonis 1-6 and 3-6.
The classification, which begins Saturday and ends Sunday, will award four passports to the main draw, in a tournament that will distribute $626,595 in prizes.
Source: La Verdad
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