“..There is going to be a lot of pressure on me…” the young No. 1, Carlos Alcaraz has said concerning the 2023 season to come. He is calm but thinking about not only staying a top player but also taking it as stress-free as possible and having fun in the process.
“I have to enjoy tennis and play at my form,” he emphasized when asked how he comes up with brilliant strategies. The 19-year-old is the no. 1 player in the world, winning at this year’s U.S. Open, but knows he must not get frazzled by all the players and just stick to his game tactics.
This past May at the Madrid Open he defeated Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. He was the only teen to have done such a feat on the same clay event and is bursting with confidence on being successful again. “For the rest of the season…I’m able to play against the best…I beat them…so it makes me a lot of confidence,” Carlos explained.
But there are a lot of other players that he will also have to defeat to build up his repetoire for a successful game. Alcaraz was able to win over Alexander Zverev to clinch the Madrid Open title. Italy’s Jannik Sinner, the no.
15th ranked ATP guy was able to defuse Alcaraz’s game in the Round of 16’s Croatia Open, leaving Carlos stunned. Cameron Norrie took him down in Cincinnati and Felix Auger-Aliassime won the title from him at the Swiss Indoors.
Alcaraz sustained an abdominal injury at the Paris Masters against Holger Rune. After the match he wasn’t able to stretch or hit his serve or even execute a decent forehand. The young Spaniard was in no shape to continue the tour and had to withdraw from the ATP Finals and the Davis Cup due to the injury but promises to come back strong for the 2023 season.
He was grateful to be awarded at the ATP Nitto Finals a trophy signifying his no. 1 status on tour even if he wasn’t able to play. “To be part of the tennis history with a lot of legends, for me it’s an amazing feeling…In the beginning of the season, I’m gonna be 100 perscent,” he said with a broad smile.
“All I can do is be positive and focus on my recovery,” Alcaraz sadly said after having to miss the big season end tournaments. Doctors had given Carlito at least 6 weeks time to recuperate, but it’s anyone’s guess as to how long he will actually need to be in top performance for the first Slam of the year -The Australian Open.
Playing and defeating the Best keeps Alcaraz’s game tight but this may just be the beginning of staying superior when his other competitors are so dynamic. Taylor Fritz had taken Carlos’ spot at the ATP Finals in Turin, Italy.
Both had never met each other on the competitive court. Fritz has had long winning streaks, producing titles and is definitely a strong contender for the coy but spirited teen. The players are adding up as to who Carlos has to face and win over to remain in the top 5 in the world.
Tommy Paul, David Goffin, Marin Cilic and fellow Spaniard Albert Ramos-Vinolas are the veterans to the game that may pose threats to Alcaraz’s gamesmanship. There are also so many younger players that are elevating their games and can present trouble to the Spaniard on court.
Carlos Alcaraz may at times act modest, but his team and he are well aware that to recuperate from an abdominal injury, train, and return back in top form will be a major goal to accomplish for the new 2023 season. Practice makes perfect but there’s nothing like playing a real match, in real time on the competitive court to show all what one has in their professional strategy.
Carlito still has what it takes to be a superior, dominant player but seeing is believing once he returns to play his 100 percent again.
