ATP tournament in Rio de Janeiro: Carlos Alcaraz triumphs – and starts for big goals

Carlos Alcaraz has amazing muscles. The tennis pro from Murcia in Spain has a wonderful touch, plays tactically astutely and is full of fighting spirit.

At just 18, he’s a complete professional – and an ever-growing threat to the top stars. His triumph in Rio de Janeiro makes people sit up and take notice.

Alcaraz is the youngest champion of an ATP 500 tournament since the category was introduced in 2009 with an impressive 6-4, 6-2 victory in the final against Argentinian Diego Schwartzman and has already cracked the top 20 as a teenager.

“I have big dreams,” he said openly afterwards: “To be number one, to win Grand Slams, Olympic medals, people have high expectations of me.”

Alcaraz doesn’t want to be the “next Nadal”.

The powerful right-hander doesn’t want to be the “next Nadal”.

“My coach Juan Carlos Ferrero, who is fundamentally important to me, doesn’t like it when I’m compared to Rafa,” Alcaraz said at the end of last year on Eurosport.de: “He wants me to focus on myself, on Carlos Alcaraz, and don’t try to be someone else. That advice helped me a lot.”

Alcaraz made his tour-level debut in Rio in 2020, just two years later he triumphed at Sugar Loaf and fell to the red ashes after the 1:26-hour final.

“To be honest, I can’t believe it. It was a great week for me,” said the tournament winner: “It’s a great feeling at the moment.”

Spaniard exceeded his own expectations

After climbing from 141st to 32nd in the world rankings in 2021 and making a clear mark with a place in the quarter-finals at the US Open, Alcaraz currently seems to be overtaking itself in terms of development.

He has already achieved the goal of his second tournament victory set before the start of the season and will also have to be considered at the Grand Slams.

After the strenuous week in Brazil, there is now a break to relax. Due to slight elbow pain, Alcaraz will not take part in the strong tournament in Acapulco/Mexico.

(SID)