Carlos Alcaraz tries to reach the ball during the Indian Wells final RAY ACEVEDO | EFE
The success achieved in Indian Wells and his return to first place in the world ranking confirm the great impact that the Spaniard has had on his sport.
20 mar 2023 . Updated at 7:01 p.m.
At only 19 years and 10 months old, Carlos Alcaraz has already experienced experiences that have taken great players a whole career to achieve: winning eight titles, including a grand slam, three Masters 1,000 and climbing to the top of the ATP world ranking. At the same time, he also knows what it means when an injury altered his preseason and prevented him from playing the grand slam that opened the season.
After his impressive appearance on the circuit, dazzling with his freshness, self-confidence and an arsenal of shots never seen before in a player his age, the injury, which kept him out of competition for four months, created a certain amount of concern, pending verification. what would his return be like?
Fortunately, the Murcian has not only returned to the courts with his virtues, but has also improved his attitude, avoiding excessive anxiety, and playing more relaxed.
balance
Fourteen victories in fifteen games
The result has been a victory in Buenos Aires, the chance to play the final in Rio (which he lost due to a muscular problem), and now, the victory in Indian Wells without losing a single set. A tournament in which he managed to prevail over Sinner, Auger-Alliasime and sweep Medvedev in the final who had just won three consecutive titles.
With fourteen games won out of the fifteen played, the possible doubts about problems in his return have been more than dissipated. Carlos continues to play with exceptional self-confidence. The variety of his blows dazzles all audiences. He serves and subtracts extraordinarily well; he hits game-winners from either side of the court; he alternates drop shots to a fast-paced backbeat; he reaches impossible balls; he comes to the net with the confidence of having a good volley, and behaves like a veteran in difficult moments.
impact
Alcaraz conquers Indian Wells and the number one
A major attraction for the tennis scene
Recognized by all the best players as the most difficult rival to beat, the young Spaniard will have to repeat his victory in Miami to stay at number 1 that alternates with Novak Djokovic. Penalized for not getting vaccinated, the Serbian cannot play tournaments in the United States.
Waiting for the return of Rafa Nadal on the ground tour, the tennis scene looks enormously attractive. If the man from Manacor returns well, he will undoubtedly be a favorite at Roland Garros, but being aware that, in addition to Djokovic, he will have another Spaniard as a difficult rival.
immediate challenges
Miami, to confirm the success of the praise
But let’s not anticipate events, because before the Paris event there are important tournaments in Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Madrid and Rome, which will show the state of form of all the candidates to win the second grand slam of the year. At the moment, the news is in Miami, where the focus of attention of all the fans is to see if the young man from Palmar, who has already become an idol for the North American public, manages to win in Florida. It would thus confirm the success of the innumerable praise that Alcaraz has received. Among them there is one especially relevant: that of a character in the history of tennis like Billie Jean King. At 79 years old, and with 39 grand slam titles to his credit (12 singles, 16 doubles and 11 mixed) he referred to Carlos in these terms: He is a genius playing tennis and I feel lucky to be alive to see him. It is a gift to our sport.
A gift that will have to be taken care of; because except for the appearance of the feared injuries, the potential of Carlos Alcaraz augurs an exceptional future for him.
