Carlos Alcaraz He starred in one of the most meteoric entries on the ATP professional circuit. At the age of 19, he became the youngest number one in history, a day after he premiered his Grand Slam record by winning the US Open 2022.
He was the sensation last season, where, in addition to the tournament in New York, he dominated the ATP Masters 1000 in Miami and Madrid, the ATP 500 in Barcelona-Conde de Godó Trophy and Rio.
Injuries thwarted the culmination of what should have been his first ATP Finals in Turin and the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga, as well as his participation in the final Australian Open, but he quickly returned to the front.
As it happens in his new tournament, the third on this course, first on a hard court. He suffered a hamstring strain in his right leg that prevented him from fully competing in the final in Rio, which he lost to Britain’s Cameron Norrie, and caused him to withdraw from Acapulco.
Arrived on time at Indian Wells. “The injury has been forgotten, I’m fine, there is no pain or movement,” he said after defeating the Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis by 6-3 and 6-3.
“I want to enjoy”, stressed the Murcian, committed to maintaining his smile in any situation. He has serve, forehand, backhand, surprises with his precise drop shots, he likes to volley. A resource that is as varied as it is complete in its execution of Alcaraz, who has been praised by specialists for not having a hole in his tennis.
If anything, the gaps in the middle of the game are increasingly non-existent or short. He is gaining experience, he is adjusting to his status as a universal star.
And he is clear on the basis of how to harm any of his rivals on the other side of the net. Asked why he is more dangerous to opponents, Carlos Alcaraz he answered without hesitation. He is not speaking of a coup per se, but of a global component.
“I would say the pressure that I put on the opponent in each blow. For example, in the rest, taking the opponent to the limit with each shot. Noyr went for him in each blow,” Alcaraz analyzed.
“I would say that is the most dangerous part of my game, that the rival feels the pressure in each of the blows,” he added.
He joins this starting philosophy “well, I move well. I would say that I am fast, that I reach each ball, or at least I try. But, what more, that pressure that I put my opponent under with each shot, with every hit”.
Aggressiveness in every action is non-negotiable according to the basic manual of Carlos Alcaraz. Better to fail miserably than to default, seek dominance from the first impact.
And to this is added a great capacity for work to continue learning, Juan Carlos Ferreroformer Grand Slam champion and world number 1 who turned to the formation and development of Alcaraz.
“One of the things I’ve worked on the most in training lately is the serve, and I took advantage of that in my debut in Indian Wells. And I hope it will help me in the rest of the tournament,” said Alcaraz, who won 20 of 21 service points in his first set match Thanasi Kokkinakis, to whom he did not concede a single break ball.
Source: La Verdad
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