Alcaraz thinks about Australia: “Being number one does not weigh me down”

In Carlos Alcaraz’s initial plans, the Murcian should be in Malaga these days to play the final phase of the Davis Cup with Spain. However, an abdominal injury at the 1,000 Masters in Paris changed everything, and forced the number one to end his season. In the midst of his recovery and with his mind already set on 2023, Carlitos is spending a few days on vacation in Tenerife, where he has attended the media.

Accompanied by his friends at the Abama Golf complex in Tenerife, Alcaraz enjoys a well-deserved vacation “to regain his strength before getting back on the track”. His 2022, in which he won his first Grand Slam, ended abruptly due to injury, but that did not stop Carlitos from finishing the year as the leader of the ATP ranking. “Being a number does not weigh on me, I take it as something normal, or at least I try to. I never have to forget that, whatever happens in the future, I have to enjoy tennis and play my way,” said the man from El Palmar at a press conference held at the facilities where he is staying.

When on November 5 he announced suffering a muscle tear in the left abdomen, Alcaraz confirmed that the estimated time out was six weeks, so he is still not fully recovered. Despite this, number one admitted that his healing “is going very well.” “I am going slowly, with patience, but also with the desire to be able to return to normal training. I still have a few weeks left.” wakefulness. Despite not being able to practice 100%, Carlitos is already doing key work: mental. “I know that the season will be difficult and that I have to mentally prepare a lot, because I am number one and I will go to tournaments as a favourite, but I am clear about what to play, what my style should be and what I have to enjoy”.

The first big goal on his return will be the Australian Open, scheduled to start on January 16. He will not be in the United Cup representing Spain, and he has yet to define if he will participate in any event prior to the Australian Grand Slam. “I want to start to the maximum from the first day and this is a good destination because it is similar to what we will find in Australia”he said about Tenerife.

The man from El Palmar also had time to talk about other current issues, such as the state of a Rafa Nadal whom he praised again. “It is a pleasure, for every tennis lover, to see Rafa on the court. He has finished this year as number two, he has won two Grand Slams… If I were him, I wouldn’t even consider retiring, because you can tell that he loves to play and that he loves tennis”, commented an Alcaraz who flees from comparisons. “I try to turn a deaf ear and enjoy the road. It makes no sense to compare. It doesn’t matter that now I have the number one title, Rafa’s entire career counts for a lot”. Of course, an objective with respect to Nadal is “outdo him in direct confrontation”, in which the Spaniard now wins 2-1. His mind is already set on 2023.