Carlos Alcaraz showed an astonishing and extraordinary performance during the first part of the 2022 season. The young Spanish player has also managed to win the Masters 1000 in Miami and Madrid, as well as the ATP 500 in Rio and that of Barcelona, at home.
Alcaraz still lacks the feat of winning a Grand Slam title, but it is clear to everyone that we are facing a very great player in the making. According to many experts, Juan Carlos Ferrero’s protege will become the master of the men’s circuit in a few years.
Recall that ‘Carlitos’ has already managed to beat both Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic in the same tournament (in Madrid), proving that he is not at all afraid of confrontation with the greatest players in world tennis.
By beating Norbert Gombos last Thursday in Umag, the new world No. 5 signed his 40th victory of the season. The 19-year-old Murcia player wants to defend his title in Croatia, also to redeem the defeat suffered in the final in Hamburg last week.
After this brief “campaign” on red clay, Alcaraz will return home and begin their preparation for the US Masters 1000. At the microphones of “Tennis TV”, Tracy Austin spoke beautiful words about the young Iberian.
Tracy Austin on Carlos Alcaraz
Tracy Austin told Tennis TV that Carlos Alcaraz entered the Umag tournament with the mentality of winning every next game, and not watching too much what comes next.
“I think a guy like that probably doesn’t think about that (defending a title). He’s in the top 5 now. It doesn’t really matter (defending a title).
He’s a guy with a mindset that says, ‘Give me the ball, I’m going to win the game today. (And only when he’s won, he wonders) Who do I play next? That’s the mindset of a champion, but it’s not about defending something.
That’s not how you get to do the job a second time,” Austin explained.
Although he lost to Lorenzo Musetti in the final, Alcaraz was able to improve his ranking. The 19-year-old now sits No. 5 in the world. Speaking about the achievement, the young Spaniard has revealed the much bigger goal he has for his future.
“It means a lot. The hard work I do every day to achieve my dreams, [de devenir No. 1]and little by little I’m reaching my dream, the Top 5 for me is pretty amazing and I’ll keep going until I get there,” he said.
Being both from the same nation, many call Alcaraz the successor of Rafael Nadal. In his young career, Alcaraz has already won 5 ATP titles.
