Yesterday the ATP informed us which players are nominated in the ATP Awards de 2021 and, how could it be otherwise, Carlos Alcaraz placeholder image will choose to win the award of ‘Most Improved Player Of The Year‘. Only twelve months after conquering the one of ‘Newcomer Of The Year 2020‘, the 18-year-old from Murcia has become one of the great sensations of the men’s circuit, climbing this course from 146th place to 32nd place. A high that we wanted to review on our channel Youtube to remember every moment that made us vibrate from home.
If we make context of how the year began and how it ended for Alcaraz, we will quickly see that one thing has nothing to do with the other. From being out of the top100, to fighting to get into the top30. From fighting on the Challenger circuit and some official tournament previews, to being seeded in his latest events. From being a player of the future to being a reality of the present. Come on, I’ve changed his life from top to bottom, a turnaround in his plans that can only happen through effort, faith and a talent like we haven’t seen in many years.
This is how he was building his own path, overcoming the Qualy of the Open de Australia and winning game, beating David Goffin in Melbourne 1, treading his first semifinals in the ATP 250 from Marbella and winning the Challenger in Oeiras that would give him entry to the top 100 for the first time. From there, the big bang.
Then the third round of Roland Garros after making it through the qualifying round again, his first win on the grass at Wimbledon, his first professional title at the ATP 250 from Umag, a new semifinals at the Winston-Salem tournament and, on top of achievements, the US Open quarterfinals after adding wins over Cameron Norrie or Stefanos Tsitsipas. It was at that precise moment that everyone realized who Carlos Alcaraz was. A boy different from the rest.
Continuous growth and learning
But do not believe that the Murcian’s ambition ended after becoming the youngest player in history to get among the top 8 of the North American Grand Slam, far from it. There was still energy left to beat Murray and Berrettini in Vienna, where they made the semi-finals. Or to beat Sinner at Paris-Bercy, where he made the round of 16. Or of course, to drop a single set in five games of the Next Gen ATP Finals, where he went out the front door confirming that there is no other player with more projection than his. A pity that COVID did not let him put the icing on the cake by debuting in Davis Cup.
This has been the path of Carlos Alcaraz in 2021, a season difficult to forget at this time, although we have no doubt of the greatness that the following will bring. If nothing strange happens, we are only at the beginning of a memorable story.
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