Carlos Alcaraz’s dream – completing the Sunshine Doubles by winning Indian Wells and the Miami Open in the same season – is taking shape with every round the Spaniard wins in Florida.
Carlitos eliminated Gael Monfils and qualified for the 4th round of the Miami Open 2024, where he will face the Italian Lorenzo Musetti.
The match between the young Spaniard and the experienced Frenchman was highly anticipated but Monfils was able to offer little resistance to the Spanish player’s blows. Alcaraz dominated the first set 6-2. Monfils tried to get back into the match in the second set, raising the level of his tennis, but that wasn’t enough. Alcaraz also won the second set 6-4, bringing his dream another step closer.
Many stars were present at the Hard Rock Stadium to watch the match between Alcaraz and Monfils, including Juan Martin Del Potro, Neymar and Jimmy Butler.
Speaking after the match at the press conference, the Spaniard focused on the presence of these stars to watch one of his matches.
“I have a relationship with Jimmy Butler. I’ve talked to Juan Martin and Neymar a little bit. It’s a great opportunity to have them around and have the chance to talk to them a little bit. It’s great to put on a show in front of them.
It’s a little difficult for me to stay focused during the game. Having these legends from every sport is amazing to me. I try to show excellent tennis to try to make them happy too and make them enjoy my games,” he explained.
Carlos Alcaraz after beating Gael Monfils in Miami
“You’re playing one of the best entertainers in our sport. Delpo is here. Jimmy Butler is here. Neymar is here. How do you stay focused?”
Carlos: “For me it’s kind of difficult to stay focused in the match. Having such legends… pic.twitter.com/Cg3dwv80Zj
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) March 26, 2024
As mentioned, Lorenzo Musetti will challenge Carlitos Alcaraz in the 4th round of the Miami Open. Musetti analyzed the challenge that awaits him against the Spaniard, explaining why this will be a different match from all those they have already played.
“We will play in different conditions than in the past. Alcaraz is playing well and after the Indian Wells victory he has regained confidence. It won’t be easy, I think facing it right now is the most exciting challenge in tennis. He and Jannik are governing our sport, but I’m happy to compare myself with him to see if I can take one step further. He is physically well but I am also in the best period of the last few months, ” said the Italian.
Musetti also analyzed his win against Ben Shelton, in the 3rd round.
“It’s the best match of the last few months. I feel like I did everything well and found the real Lorenzo on the pitch, in terms of maturity, choices, physicality. I felt good and I tackled a player whose characteristics are perhaps the prototype of a player that I don’t like. I enjoyed it, I made a few freebies, a few bad choices.
Attitude and charisma allowed me to win the match against a dangerous player. As soon as I had a small drop, he broke me in the second set but I was good at reacting immediately. I think the key was precisely the fact that we forced him to play an extra ball. I was never on defense, in fact I was the one in charge of the exchange,” he said.
Carlos Alcaraz’s new record
With the success at Indian Wells last week, Alcaraz confirmed his 2nd position in the ATP ranking, extending his streak of consecutive weeks in the Top-2 to 80.
After winning the 2022 US Open, the two-time Slam champion never dropped below second position in the world men’s ranking, spending 36 weeks at ATP No.1 and 44 at ATP No.2.
With the victory at Indian Wells, the young Spanish champion reached 80 weeks in the top two positions of the ATP world ranking.
Alcaraz became the 13th player to reach the 80-week milestone. A ranking dominated by the almost unattainable record of Roger Federer, in the lead with 346 weeks, followed by Novak Djokovic with 325.
The Spanish tennis player will try to defend his second position in the coming weeks, and chase the Serbian tennis player’s first place. In the meantime, the top 2 streak could lengthen, and John Newcombe (82 weeks) and Lleyton Hewitt (87) could soon be overtaken.
Below is the list of players with the most consecutive weeks in the top-2 of the ATP rankings in history:
Roger Federer: 346 weeks
Novak Djokovic: 325 weeks
Jimmy Connors: 282 weeks I
van Lendl: 280 weeks
Rafael Nadal: 212 weeks
Pete Sampras: 173 weeks
Björn Borg: 170 weeks
John McEnroe: 158 weeks
Stefan Edberg: 117 weeks
Jim Courier: 107 weeks
Lleyton Hewitt: 87 weeks
John Newcombe: 82 weeks
Carlos Alcaraz: 80 weeks
