The Australian Open got one more day of competition compared to previous editions. The first Grand Slam of the season was won on the fifteenth day of the main draw, mirroring the action at Roland Garros, opening the tournament on a Sunday and not a Monday. It will take place from January 14 to 28.
Tennis Australia (TA), the country’s federation that owns and organizes the event, also promoted the ‘opening’ week, as it calls it these days where the major stars train in venue, where other tennis players seek position through the previous stages.
One of the main characters of strengthening events, of opening the event to a larger audience, is Carlos Alcarazwho returned to the Australian Open after playing it twice: second round in 2021, from the qualifying phase, and third in 2022. He did not compete in 2023 due to a muscle injury in his right leg.
He is already in Melbourne, where this Monday he intensified his work in a training session with the Norwegian Casper Ruud. This Tuesday he will have another partner with high speed, guaranteed intensity, as he has a center court reserved for the Russian. Andrey Rublevrecent Hong Kong ATP champion.
The Murcian, 20 years old and world No. 2, was the leading player who eventually reached the ocean, extended the preseason at the JC Ferrero Academy, under the supervision of a Juan Carlos Ferrero who stayed home to continue rehabilitation after knee surgery. His place is occupied by Samuel López, regular coach of Pablo Carreno.
There are no ATP tournaments on the official calendar of Carlos Alcaraz, who will be tested in just two of the official exhibition matches scheduled for the Australian Open. On Wednesday the 10th the Australian will be measured Alex de Minaur, recent executioner of Novak Djokovic in the United Cup, at 18:30 local time, 08:30 Spanish peninsular time.
Same data for the confrontation between Alcaraz and the Norwegian Casper Ruudon Friday the 12th.
They have meetings Rod Laver Arenathe central, with an audience as there is an open box office to raise funds to be allocated to charities aimed at children through the Tennis Australia Foundation.
The Serbian Novak Djokovic, ten-time champion, had his own night reserved. On Thursday the 11th, a double program as the Serbian faces the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipasrecalling the 2023 final, and the current champion, Belarusian Aryna Sabalenkaface the Greek Maria Sakkari.
Carlos Alcaraz He has raised the bar with intense training and two exhibition tests that will allow him to get the tone of competition he must absolutely win the heart of the Australian Open.
Source: La Verdad
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