Carlos Alcaraz Aims to Regain Joy at ATP Rio Open After Recent Defeats

On February 18, 2020, at the age of 16, Carlos Alcaraz achieved his first victory on the ATP circuit. His victim was Albert Ramos and the tournament, the ATP 500 in Rio de Janeiro, in which he debuted this Tuesday (not before 11:00 p.m., on Movistar Deportes) with the aim of rediscovering that joy he felt when he was just a Teen. Since then, everything has changed a lot. Having become a superstar, Charly is the great favorite to win a title that he already has in his record and that he needs. “It is a difficult defeat. It has hurt me a lot. There are many things to improve and the level has to rise,” said the current world number two after falling in the semifinals in Buenos Aires last Saturday and not being able to defend a trophy that extended the longest drought of his career.

Since Alcaraz won Wimbledon, a victory that he already has tattooed with a strawberry and the date of the day, as seen this Monday at a press conference, seven months and 17 days have passed. In this period, the prodigy from El Palmar has not added any more titles (and only one final, in August, in Cincinnati) to a record that already has 12 winners. I had never gone so long without expanding it. The previous streak of emptiness, in fact, dates back to the time that elapsed between his first trophy, Umag 2021, and the second, which was precisely Rio 2022. Then, he accumulated six months and 23 days.

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For all these reasons, Brazil, the place of his baptism among the elite, seems the right destination for Alcaraz, self-critical of his moment, to resume his glorious path. The Spaniard arrived from Buenos Aires on Monday afternoon. He settled in a hotel located on Copacabana beach and recharged his strength to undertake the challenge, which will begin against local tennis player Thiago Monteiro, 29 years old, 117th in the ranking and invited by the tournament. In the face to face, of dubious value due to the time of the confrontations (both were in 2021), there is a victory for each. “I already lost against him and I will have to give my 100%,” analyzed Carlitos who, of course, has not lost his ambition. Before the media, he expressed his desire to, one day, equal Andy Murray’s two Olympic golds.

Carlos Alcaraz, at the press conference prior to his debut at the ATP in Rio de Janeiro. PABLO PORCIUNCULAAFP

The road to the third final

If he surpasses his debut, Alcaraz would have a friendly draw until his third final in Rio. From the round of 16 to the semifinals, by ranking and in order, three Argentines would wait in a row: Pedro Cachín (28 years old and 76th), Sebastián Báez (23 and 30th) and Francisco Cerúndolo (25 and 22nd). In the final, Cameron Norrie (28th and 23rd), the executioner of an injured Charly in last year’s title match, would await. Díaz Acosta, recent winner in Buenos Aires, Arthur Fils or Nicolás Jarry, who eliminated Charly in Argentina, are other interesting players in the draw, with four with a lot of Spanish representation. Roberto Carballés debuts this Tuesday against the Chilean Cristian Garín and, this Monday, Albert Ramos, Bernabé Zapata and Jaume Munar played. At the head of the Navy, there is Carlitos who wants to recover his joy in the country of samba.

2024-02-20 00:17:41
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