MELBOURNE, Australia — He might have solely celebrated his twenty first birthday in Could final 12 months, however Carlos Alcaraz already has severe 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. Within the blink of an eye fixed, it appeared, he had joined tennis’ extremely elite.
“For me, the objective 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 supplied extra frustration and heartbreak than fond recollections. 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.
Sarcastically, 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 finalist 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 instantaneous crowd favourite and resulting in many pundits forecasting success in his close to future.
These predictions shortly 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 following two seasons.
However 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 pressured 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 did not 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 Problem Cup to what’s already an eye-popping trophy assortment. Profitable 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 attain the extraordinary feat.
“I actually need to win this event. To sooner or later put my title on that brief record,” Alcaraz mentioned throughout opening week of the Australian Open. “I am working day by day to be prepared for that point. Hopefully it is this 12 months.”
If Alcaraz’s performances up to now are something to go by, he might not must 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 docket Enviornment, 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. Ultimately, he required simply 81 minutes to dispatch his Japanese rival, successful 66% of complete factors and dropping solely 5 video games all through what was, for probably the most half, his second consecutive non-contest.
“I feel 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, essential for me. I am actually pleased with all the things right now. Hopefully proceed like this.”
Not solely is Australia lastly witnessing Alcaraz at full flight, but in addition it might be getting one of the best model of him but.
This previous offseason, Alcaraz rebuilt his serve, implementing a looser wrist approach in an effort to make it extra fluid and discover accuracy with higher consistency. It is already paying dividends. In opposition to Nishioka, he struck 14 aces and received 89% of factors when his first serve landed in play. He is additionally hanging the ball more durable than he did 12 months in the past, resulting in a higher variety of winners. Event knowledge reveals Alcaraz has sacrificed round 4% of topspin on his forehand in alternate for extra velocity; now producing, on common, an additional 3km/h on these pictures.
Up to now, Alcaraz’s choice to skip the Australian Open lead-in occasions — as a substitute opting to deal with his personal health and kind to make sure it might stand as much as the rigor of Grand Slam competitors — is trying justified.
“I choose to do a great preseason, just a little bit longer. As an alternative of getting two weeks of preseason, having 4,” Alcaraz advised reporters earlier than the event in Melbourne received underway. “We do not have an excessive amount of interval in December to have a protracted preseason. You must assume what’s higher for you: keep at dwelling 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 feel I am in an age that I want weeks of observe. I want lengthy preseasons simply to be prepared. The season goes to be lengthy, so you need to be in good condition. [My aim is to] attempt to win as a lot Grand Slams as I can. [Those are] a very powerful tournaments of the world.”