Carlos Alcaraz, 21 years old and world no. for having reigned in the considered ‘Cathedral’ of world tennis.
In 2023 he arrived with the pending subject of proving that the accident in the semi-finals with Novak Djokovic At Roland Garros it had been the result of a one-off event, of a demand and pressure to which he was not yet accustomed with a legend of this sport in front of him.
He turned his nerves, which resulted in cramps throughout his body, into an impressive run on grass, where he conquered Queen’s and Wimbledon. He discovered the secrets of this surface and enjoyed it by dethroning the seven-time champion. Novak Djokovic.
The situation has changed in 2024. He arrives at Wimbledon with his first Roland Garros, his third Grand Slam, under his belt, with the intention of becoming the thirteenth male tennis player to do the Paris-London double, on clay, during the same season.
The draw indicates that in the quarterfinals he would have the top seeded opponent, the Norwegian Casper Ruuda pure ‘earthling’, or the American Tommy Paul, his successor in the Queen’s tournament, where he lost to the British Jack Draper.
In the semi-finals he would meet again with the new world number 1, the Italian Jannick Sinner, or Russian Daniil Mevedevremaining for the final Novak Djokovicif he survives the rapid recovery process of his right knee, after undergoing surgery for a torn meniscus, on Wednesday, June 5.
Despite that visit Novak Djokovic to the operating room in Paris, when under normal conditions he would have played the quarterfinals at Roland Garros, Carlos Alcaraz included him on the list of favorites, among his greatest rivals for the title. “Yes, despite this knee thing. Also, of course, despite Jannik Sinner”said the Spaniard.
He said that “there are many players who can play well here”, although he saved a special section for the German Alexander Zverevhis victim in the final of Roland Garros, world No. 4.
An important player but without a record at Wimbledon, so it was surprising that Alcaraz put so much focus on him. “For me there is also Zverev, although in previous years he has not had great success here. I still take him as a rival to keep an eye on,” he said.
As if he had heard the words of Alexander Zverevwho for his part warned that “I spoke about it with my brother (Mischa). It is the first time that I really feel that I am at Wimbledon to compete, perhaps to win the title.”
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It will be his eighth participation, with the round of 16 in 2017 and 2021 as the best results. In 2023 he lost in the third round with the Italian Matthew Berrettini.
After Roland Garros, he prepared the grass by playing the ATP 500 in Hallen, where he made the semifinals. He lost in two sets to Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz.
Alcaraz would not be surprised if he entered the race for the Wimbledon trophy for the first time.
2024-06-30 05:00:00
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