Carlos Alcaraz Aims for Australian Open Success after Stellar 2023 Season

Carlos Alcaraz in action (REUTERS/Ahmed Yosri)

Carlos Alcaraz wants to go further in 2024. After a 2023 in which he established himself greatly in the elite of world tennis, the Spaniard will seek to continue increasing his record of achievements in a season that looks as or more exciting than the previous one. The first stop in search of glory will be in Australia, where in a few days the assault on the first Grand Slam of the season will begin. The only one that the ATP number two has not won, along with Roland Garros.

The world number one in tennis, Carlos Alcaraz, has three brothers. Two of them are also involved in the world of tennis

The Murcian is going to debut his calendar in the big Melbourne, without having previously competed in any competition. He has only been in the Australian city for a few hours, where he will represent the great Spanish hope for victory. He will not be accompanied, finally, by Rafa Nadal, whom Carlitos wanted to remember on social networks once his loss was known: “We are waiting for you at the next tournament Rafa! Get well soon!”.

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Alcaraz has only played two editions of the Australian Open. In 2021, he qualified for the final draw from the previous round: after defeating Botic Van de Zandschulp in the first round (6-1, 6-4, 6-4), he was eliminated in the second against Mikael Ymer (6-2 , 4-6, 4-6, 6-7 [5]). In 2022, he improved his participation and reached the third round: he was able to beat Alejandro Tabilo (6-2, 6-2, 6-3) and Dusan Lajovic (6-2, 6-1, 7-5), but no with Matteo Berrettini (2-6, 6-7 [3]6-4, 6-2, 6-7 [5]).

Alcaraz in his last match against Djokovic (REUTERS/Ahmed Yosri)

After not being able to compete in the 2023 edition due to injury, the winner of two majors (US Open 2022 and Wimbledon 2023) is one of the favorites to win the trophy on Aussie lands. As of this Monday, he is already on the stage of the event, with a very clear roadmap before debuting.

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Shortly after landing in Melbourne, the one from El Palmar has already trained, with Casper Ruud on the other side of the net. The Norwegian, eleventh in the ranking, will face Alcaraz in one of the two exhibition matches that he will play before the Australian Open begins.

That appointment with Ruud will be next Friday, January 12. On Wednesday the 10th, the one who will face Alcaraz in a friendly will be the local Álex de Miñaur, who has just entered the Top 10 and could star in one of the surprises of the event if he maintains his good progression. To continue his appointments with top rivals, the great standard-bearer of the Next Gen tennis team also plans to train with the Russian Andrey Rublev, whom he defeated in the last ATP Finals.

It will not be until next Thursday, January 11, when the draw will be held and, therefore, we will know what Alcaraz’s path will be on the hard court of Melbourne. What is clear now is what he needs to do to return to the top of the men’s circuit rankings, something he has achieved, to date, for 36 weeks.

Alcaraz after defeating Djokovic in Riyadh (EFE/EPA/STR)

The number one will once again correspond to Alcaraz if he manages to become champion, is a finalist and does not play for the title against Novak Djokovic, is a semi-finalist and the Serbian loses in the quarterfinals or before or if he reaches the quarterfinals and Nole is not in that round. Several possibilities and no points to lose, compared to 2,000, for the 2023 twist, which is defended by his greatest opponent.

2024-01-08 16:09:00
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