Almost exactly a year ago, Carlos Alcaraz defeated Norwegian Casper Rudd at the Andalusian Open in Marbella. On Sunday, they will meet again, but this time in the Miami Open final. This time, as before, the Spanish tennis player will use the maxim his grandfather taught him.
“He always tells me to focus on the three ‘C’s: Head, heart and balls”, Alcaraz told the press an hour after he became the fifth youngest finalist in the Masters 1,000 tournament in ATP history on Friday at the Miami Open.
The 18-year-old from Murcia defeated Polish Hubert Hurkacz, the 2021 champion, in two setswhich links his dismissal to “Carlos playing too well.”
This is not the only reason why he has become one of the most admired new tennis players on the circuit and he is clear about it. “All I reached was thanks and to him“, he said in reference to his coach Juan Carlos Ferrero, who for the first time was not with his side after the loss of his father Eduardo on March 20.
“I always have him with me even without him”, He hinted when he revealed that he is always in contact with Ferrero. But, in addition, he felt “very confined” to Miami.
“The public is too generous. I was also with my dad, my three uncles had arrived, a lot of people, I had a lot of people around“, he explained.
His routine before the semifinal match included a nap of approximately 20 minutes, during which he woke up two hours before the court date. Then a game session with his mobile phone and a while joking with his circle of trust. He’s convinced he doesn’t have to “think of anything” that adds pressure, especially this Sunday.
That includes thinking about the possibility of end the Spaniards ’consecutive defeats in the men’s final of the Miami Openwho have already failed eight times in their battle for the championship.
Sergi Bruguera, Carlos Moyà and David Ferrer were runner-ups in 1997, 2003 and 2013 respectively, while Rafa Nadal was denied first place at the Miami Open five times, in 2005, 2008, 2011, 2014 and 2017.
He also doesn’t want to know that if he wins on Sunday, he will be the youngest champion in the 37-year history of the Miami Open and the third youngest winner in the Masters 1,000. Michael Chang was 18 years and five months old when he won the Toronto Open in 1990, while Nadal was 18 and 10 months old when he won the Monte Carlo Masters trophy in 2005.
And it is that Alcaraz is trying that the final court appearance against Rudd, the first Norwegian in a Masters 1,000 final, is not a threat to his mental stability. “I try to watch Sunday’s game like everyone else, “he said. His goal is very clear:” have fun and do everything I can.“.
When he realized that on April 10, 2021 he had defeated Rudd in Spain, Carlos Alcaraz smiled. “I feel like I’m a better player now. Sure, he is too, but we know each other in court and that helps.“.
It also helps to have almost 100% of the spectators at the stands at Hard Rock Stadium cheering on every victory, holding their breath with every deceptive play and calling his name even after mistakes or lost points.
Source: La Verdad
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
