MELBOURNE, Australia — He could have solely celebrated his twenty first birthday in May final 12 months, however Carlos Alcaraz already has critical claims to being one of the best tennis participant on the planet.
Over the previous 30 months, the charismatic Spaniard has received extra Grand Slam titles than anybody else within the sport, reached the semifinals in main competitors in six of the eight occasions he is competed in, and picked up over $15 million in prize cash.
Alcaraz additionally turned the ATP’s youngest world No. 1 when he took the mantle from Daniil Medvedev in September 2022. Two-and-a-half months later, he turned the youngest year-end world No. 1. In the blink of an eye fixed, it appeared, he had joined tennis’ extremely elite.
“For me, the purpose now’s attempt to win Grand Slams,” Alcaraz, now the world No. 3, declared on the eve of the Australian Open, emphasizing his urge for food for achievement and the lofty expectations he locations on himself.
At this level in Alcaraz’s younger profession, the Australian Open has offered extra frustration and heartbreak than fond reminiscences. Not solely does it stay the one main title he has but to win, it is a event that has by no means seen him at his ruthless greatest.
Ironically, it was the Australian Open in 2022 when Alcaraz first introduced himself to the world. The 18-year-old fell agonizingly brief in a gripping third-round encounter in opposition to eventual semifinalist Matteo Berrettini, a match that went 5 units and lasted greater than 4 hours. Alcaraz produced some mesmerizing tennis all through the competition, making him an prompt crowd favourite and resulting in many pundits forecasting success in his close to future.
Those predictions rapidly proved correct, with Alcaraz triumphing over Casper Ruud on the US Open later within the 12 months, earlier than including a pair of Wimbledon crowns and a French Open title over the subsequent two seasons.
But since that match in opposition to Berrettini at Melbourne Park, it has been tough sledding for Alcaraz in Australia. In 2023, because the newly topped world No. 1, he was compelled to withdraw from the Australian Open after struggling a hamstring damage within the ultimate phases of his coaching camp. He would return in 2024 to a lot fanfare however was in the end undone by an ultra-efficient Alexander Zverev in a one-sided quarterfinal that didn’t showcase Alcaraz at his greatest.
This fortnight in Melbourne presents Alcaraz with a chance to show his Australian Open fortune round and add the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup to what’s already an eye-popping trophy assortment. Winning the title would transfer him again forward of Zverev within the ATP rankings and make him simply the ninth males’s participant in historical past to gather all 4 majors all through their profession. At 21, he could be the youngest to realize the extraordinary feat.
“I actually wish to win this event. To in the future put my identify on that brief checklist,” Alcaraz stated throughout opening week of the Australian Open. “I’m working day-after-day to be prepared for that point. Hopefully it is this 12 months.”
If Alcaraz’s performances so far are something to go by, he could not should do an excessive amount of hoping. In his opening match, he cruised by Alexander Shevchenko in straight units. Then, on Wednesday afternoon at Margaret Court Arena, Alcaraz produced a tennis clinic in opposition to Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka. At one stage of the match, Alcaraz had received 32 factors to Nishioka’s 5. In the tip, he required simply 81 minutes to dispatch his Japanese rival, successful 66% of whole factors and dropping solely 5 video games all through what was, for probably the most half, his second consecutive non-contest.
“I believe I performed a very strong match right now,” beamed Alcaraz after his newest conquest. “I improved the issues I had to enhance from the primary match … a very good win, necessary for me. I’m actually proud of the whole lot right now. Hopefully proceed like this.”
Not solely is Australia lastly witnessing Alcaraz at full flight, but additionally it could be getting one of the best model of him but.
This previous offseason, Alcaraz rebuilt his serve, implementing a looser wrist method in an effort to make it extra fluid and discover accuracy with higher consistency. It’s already paying dividends. Against Nishioka, he struck 14 aces and received 89% of factors when his first serve landed in play. He’s additionally hanging the ball more durable than he did 12 months in the past, resulting in a higher variety of winners. Tournament knowledge exhibits Alcaraz has sacrificed round 4% of topspin on his forehand in change for extra velocity; now producing, on common, an additional 3km/h on these photographs.
So far, Alcaraz’s determination to skip the Australian Open lead-in occasions — as a substitute opting to deal with his personal health and kind to make sure it could stand as much as the rigor of Grand Slam competitors — is wanting justified.
“I desire to do an excellent preseason, just a little bit longer. Instead of getting two weeks of preseason, having 4,” Alcaraz instructed reporters earlier than the event in Melbourne acquired underway. “We do not have an excessive amount of interval in December to have an extended preseason. You should suppose what’s higher for you: keep at house and keep doing the preseason as a substitute of enjoying any event, or not doing the preseason and enjoying some matches earlier than the Grand Slam.
“I made a decision to not come. I believe I’m in an age that I would like weeks of follow. I would like lengthy preseasons simply to be prepared. The season goes to be lengthy, so it’s important to be in good condition. [My aim is to] attempt to win as a lot Grand Slams as I can. [Those are] an important tournaments of the world.”
