Last Friday, at that time carlos alcaraz Celebrating his 20th year playing and beating Borna Coric, Rafael Nadal made a schedule against his heir by announcing that he would not play in Rome, the last tournament before Roland Garros, in the middle of the semi-finals. It might be thought of as a coincidence. Or a deliberately chosen moment depending on how you look at it. The truth is that Carlitoscontinues to eat soil from the Balearic Islands, as it is now known all over the worldWorking upstream to expedite his options to reach the Great Parisian.
After 10 pm, shortly after receiving the trophy from José Luis Martínez Almeida that marked him as the second-time Mutua Madrid Open winner in his career, Alcaraz appeared to be reckoning with his victory in the Spanish capital. He is smiling but calm. without excessive celebrations. Head focused on his second Grand Slam of the year, which has been “in between his eyebrows” since he was dropped from the Australian Open due to injury.
Murcian begins to turn victory into a routine. He already has ten titles in a career that is still in its infancy.. Seven of those victories (twice Madrid and Barcelona, Umag, Rio and Buenos Aires) came on dirt, not a surface favorite he always maintained, but one where he didn’t stop winning trophies and continued to stand out as a player. great competitor. The latter, suffering in front of an astonishing Jan-Lennard Struff, put him against the canvas at times, but succumbed to an Alcaraz, who like everyone else won 21 consecutive victories in tournaments held in Spain.
“I grow in moments that matter”
“I think there is one great ability to play key moments. “When I’ve grown the most, I get my best level and show what sets me apart from other players,” said Alcaraz, who describes himself as a “final player” and has only lost three games in his career. These are very good achievements, very big. I’m very proud of everything we’ve conquered, but we don’t want to stop.”
Except for the final in Rio, where he lost to Cameron Norrie, who was affected by a muscle problem in his right leg, all the championships of the season fell on his side. Therefore, the machine will be the biggest blow.not just for the circuit, but for Spanish tennis: Win at Nadal’s stronghold Roland Garros. It’s the final step in a relay race that’s getting closer every day, and the El Palmar tennis player himself was tasked with starting a record that wasn’t befitting for someone just over twenty.
“I’ve said many times before that it’s a shame to see Rafa skipping tournaments and even the ground tour that was so special to him. If he finally decided not to go to Rome with his team, because he saw that he was still not ready and frankly I wish him a speedy recovery and I hope to see him 100 percent at Roland Garros, which is what the tennis world wants.“He knows Alcaraz, who has always shown a desire to face each other and compete with his idol on the track.
He will land hungry after missing the Australian Open due to injury in Paris, but before that he will arrive in Rome, where he will play for the first time. “I’m an ambitious kid. I’ve never raced there and I don’t know how, but I’m sure I’ll enjoy it and be the Italian winner.” Enjoy the public”, valued number two, who currently only five points Novak Djokovic in the race to be number one and he would reclaim that position simply by stepping onto the track, taking 1,000 points of his victory last year from the defending Serb.
A position at Roland Garros that will ease his way, but this year it could be a trap. The often whimsical draw could net an early encounter with 14th-placed Nadal should he show up in Paris. And after the Murcian victory in Madrid, all eyes are already pointing to a possible crossing with his own principality, the Balearic Islands. This and no other will be the ultimate challenge.