Carlos Alcaraz He came of age facing Rafa Nadal at Caja Mágica’s Manolo Santana Stadium in Madrid. Still entering the professional circuit, he lost to the king of clay.
Two years later, he added to his matches played in Spain by victories. There are 19 in a row, which includes two Trophies of the Conde de Godó conquered and the road to a new double at the Mutua Madrid Open.
He celebrates being 20, installed in the world elite, with another successful season despite the fact that he started with an injury that left him out of the Australian Open. Then won 27 games out of 29 played, 17 out of 18 on clay, leading the course ranking on this surface. When you are physically fit, a guarantee of optimal performance.
The main anniversary party will take place at Center Court. Nothing is more motivating right now Carlos Alcaraz to compete in a tennis match. “I will never get tired of winning. I am ambitious and I dream of becoming one of the greats in history”, declared the Murcian, number two in the world but virtual number 1 if he wins this Masters 1,000 ATP in Madrid because he is five points behind. Novak Djokovicwho then defend the title in Rome.
This Friday, at 4 pm, surrounded by his large and loyal technical team, led by Juan Carlos Ferreroaccompanied by family and friends, his first ATP date with the extraordinary birthday guest, the Croatian Borna Coric26 years old and world number 20, who has never reached this event, where he reached the quarterfinals in 2017, which is as surprising as it is now.
Coric is a very talented tennis player. He is junior world No. 1, he came close to the top-10 in 2018 as a youngster, even winning on the grass of Halle Roger Federer. But his career was hampered by major injuries that led him to the operating room several times: knee in 2016 and shoulder in 2019.
Many months out of the circuit, also due to a torn stomach and back pain. When it comes back, it confirms its quality Coric, although more on hard courts than clay. In the summer of 2022, he won the Cincinnati Masters 1,000 ATP when he was ranked number 152. Beyond his ranking, which is often misleading, is his state of form. It didn’t look like it was right for Madrid, as it came with a four-match losing streak on the ATP Tour, but it was rediscovered in long-suffering victories over Hubert Hurkacz either Alexander Davidovich.
“It’s one of my favorite courts, I want to play in Madrid,” he recalled. Coricwhich in the altitude factor of the city finds an aid for its most direct shots.
Although Carlos Alcaraz is on a different level. The current champion and favorite for revalidation. And he wants his birthday present, which won’t be complete, however, until he lifts a new trophy, the tenth of his career, on Sunday.
In the final, an atypical, unexpected rival awaits. Russian Aslan Karatsev and German Jan-Lennard Struff will repeat in a full Masters 1000 ATP semifinal after meeting in the previous stage.
He won the first, a surprise semifinalist at the 2021 Australian Open, 6-4, 6-2, later to be remembered for the draw as a ‘lucky loser’, a stuff which avoided the option of repeating the final Godó Alcaraz-Tsitsipas by defeating the Greek in the quarterfinals.
Source: La Verdad
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