Shelton, Alcaraz’s new generation rival: “Getting off at 235 km/h is crazy”

Ben Shelton20 years old and 41 in the world, last night earned the right to be included in the group of generational rivals of Carlos Alcaraz who lead Jannik Sinner and Holger Rune in the Toronto Masters 1,000. Although the Murcian managed the first set (6-3) in his debut, the American demanded sudden death from him in the second, without giving him a chance to rest (7-6 (3)).

“Honestly, I’ve never played with anyone who hit the ball as hard as he did. Take it out 235km/h, it’s crazy. I almost broke the strings!” Alcaraz acknowledged after facing Shelton for the first time, whom he now considers a long-term rival. “It was really hard, he didn’t let me play my aggressive game going to the net, I couldn’t find the rhythm. He will definitely be there for a long time and we still have a lot to play for”, the Murcian pointed out about an opponent who followed an amazing development: he passed. from 282 to currently 41 in the ranking in one year.

Despite the fact that an American tour began where Alcaraz defended his title in US Open, The world number 1 took an important lesson in his victory against Ben Shelton, since last year he made his debut on this tour with a loss in his first match in Montreal against another American, Tommy Paul.

Although there are other factors in which it is difficult to adapt, such as the change of surface, that of Palmar He recognized then that the pressure could be once he broke the best, number 4 in the world in August 2022. Carlitos spoke of his mental evolution when he was also asked about the contrast between defeat and retirement against Novak Djokovic in the Roland Garros semifinals and in his victory in the Wimbledon final against the Serbian.

“I am a boy who learns from his mistakes. That when it fails it tries to analyze what happened so that the next one will not happen again. And obviously from one year to the next many things have come, many difficult moments moments that I had to face a lot of pressure, that I had to face a lot of things and I think as a result of all those situations that I am improving, I am growing, growing as a person and as a player. We can say a year is a short time but for me it was a great learning experience to see the person and the player I am now. … Right now, we have a different mentality, we know how to manage those moments and we know what to do in each moment”, reflected Alcaraz.

The Murcian also referred to the evolution of his game:

“The right is always there. has been mine favorite hit. The one I trust the most. I gradually introduced the backhand, the volley, being aggressive, the serve has never been so strong and now it is more or less a very good part of my game. When you grow, you increase things, you improve things, even what you do well, you keep improving. But the right and the left are always there,” said Carlitos.

“Everything is so fast. I did not expect at this moment to see a full crowd for my first game and my first time in Toronto. Entering the track, all or almost all of them shouted my name, that they were on top of me, supporting me, the truth is for me it was incredible and it was something I didn’t expect. A few years ago this moment would come and there would be so much support, so much love in a city where I arrived for the first time”, highlighted Carlos Alcaraz, winning a city while winning against a new rival.

But the Murcian also gained a new friendship with Maria Sharapova, whom he met in person before the game:

“I’ve watched a lot of his matches, he’s a fantastic player. And I was in ‘shock’ because I didn’t expect him to be in Toronto. I was in the elevator and I was like “Is this Maria or not?”. But it was very good to meet her and to know that things are going really well for her”, explained Carlitos, who was barely 1 year old when Maria Sharapova won in Wimbledon in 2004.