Carlos Alcaraz: The Smiling Phenom Eyeing the Sunshine Double in Miami

A resplendent smile. That of the kid who above all has fun on a court and who takes full advantage of the simple pleasure of the game. This is one of Carlos Alcaraz’s great strengths since he exploded at the highest level, but he had it somewhat lost lately. In Indian Wells, last week, the Murcian prodigy found the recipe and the consequences were spectacular on the tennis level. His victories against the (then) invincible Jannik Sinner in the semi and Daniil Medvedev in the final impressed so much that he is the logical favorite in Miami where he will start on Saturday.

But achieving the “Sunshine Double” – there are only seven to have done it, Federer being the last one seven years ago – is no easy task. Firstly because of the sequence since you have to win 12 matches consecutively if you are seeded like Alcaraz, 14 otherwise. Then because the first two Masters 1000 of the year, although both on American soil, are not really similar, even if they are both played on hard. In Indian Wells, the world number 2 had all the assets to succeed.

If he leaves early in Miami, we will be back to square one, uncertain about his level

“I think that seeing him win at Indian Wells was somewhat expected, even considers Mats Wilander, expert for Eurosport. Yes, he hadn’t won since Wimbledon, but clearly last year and even the year before (titled in 2023, he narrowly failed in the wind in the semi-final against Rafael Nadal in 2022, Editor’s note), we understood how good the conditions were for him. On such a slow and abrasive surface, Alcaraz is so fast, especially on his first steps, that he can get all the balls. And the high bounce also helps him because it further slows down the conditions and he plays with a lot of lift. As the balls fly ‘ and go faster in the hot desert air, his ability to set rhythm favors him. His serve becomes a much more important weapon because his kicking effect becomes greater.

Alcaraz’s serve had been pointed out by Andy Roddick a few weeks ago as the only sector of play where the Spaniard had not really progressed. He declared in Indian Wells that he had worked on it in recent weeks, but it will be easier to see it eventually in Miami where the surface will not particularly favor his outside kick on the first ball.

Medvedev was very good, but Alcaraz was untouchable: highlights of a masterful final

“Miami, it’s different. Daniil Medvedev loves Miami (he is the title holder, editor’s note) because it’s humid and the balls don’t bounce as high, and the court is a little faster, which makes the conditions comparable to those of the Australian Open, explains Mats Wilander. But I think that Alcaraz needs to have another good week and if he makes at least a semi-final, it would further increase his confidence. On the other hand , if he leaves early, we will be back to square one so to speak, with uncertainty about his level.”

Sinner has the keys to regain the ascendancy, but Alcaraz “found himself”

Hitting the ball at hip height actually suits his two great rivals at the moment in the absence of Djokovic: Jannik Sinner and Daniil Medvedev. In Florida in 2023, the Italian had also overthrown Alcaraz in what was one of the matches of the year, as much for his intensity as for his level of play. Unlike Indian Wells where the Murcian gradually reversed the trend last week by rounding the trajectories and putting more lift and weight in his ball, in Miami, Sinner will have more latitude to impose his tennis rhythm.

“Tournament point” and knowing laughter: Alcaraz – Sinner, associated artists

The fact remains that if Alcaraz challenges his transalpine rival again, it will mean that he has reached the final, which would already constitute a form of confirmation of his return to the forefront. At his best, the Spaniard is perfectly capable of it, having opened his account in the Masters 1000 just two years ago in… Miami. As with all tennis players, and even more so the best, the key for him lies in regained confidence and the start of a virtuous circle after a period of doubt.

“I’m calmer now, he insisted in front of the cameras of the ATP channel, Tennis TV. I hadn’t won a title since Wimbledon. But the best feeling was not lifting the trophy was to find myself, to have fun on the court. I showed my best level, which I had a little difficulty doing lately. I know that few players have done the Sunshine Double, and I want to be a part of it. I’m going to work hard for it and we’ll see.”

2024-03-23 07:13:00
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