The Japanese Naomi Osaka believes that the new Spanish sensation, Carlos Alcaraz, has generated a wave of enthusiasm in men’s tennis and said she is eager to see him in action next week in Madrid.
The former number one in the world, who is in the Spanish capital with an invitation from the Madrid tournament, has closely followed Alcaraz’s meteoric rise to the ‘Top 10’ in the world at just 18 years old.
“I feel like it has made the whole world really interested in tennis and I haven’t seen this in a long time,” Osaka told the media at the Caja Mágica, the venue for the Madrid tournament, where she will face a rival from the qualifying rounds in the first round.
Alcaraz has accumulated an impressive balance of 23 wins and three losses this season, which has made him rise to number nine in the world ranking, winning the tournaments in Rio de Janeiro, Miami and Barcelona.
The Spaniard is the youngest tennis player to enter the top ten in the world since his compatriot Rafa Nadal did it 17 years ago.
“I don’t usually think about his age and every time someone remembers him, it’s like I didn’t remember that, it’s great,” added 24-year-old Osaka.
“I just look at his style of play. I don’t know what position he was in last year here, but I’ve seen almost every tournament he’s played since the US Open when he played against (Stefanos) Tsitsipas and just seeing his growth, I think. which is exciting for everyone.”
Osaka, who has won all four of her Grand Slams on hard courts, is keen to repeat that success on clay this season. She prepared for the brick dust by training for a few days in Mallorca and anticipates that she has made some changes to her game, inspired by Nadal.
“I think I’ve stolen one of the things he does and I’ve been practicing it recently,” Osaka said, referring to Nadal.
“It can go right or wrong. There is no middle ground, but since I have been practicing it, it has worked very well,” warned the Miami finalist.
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