Updated:05/06/2022 02:22h
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It is already a tradition to blow out candles in the Caja Mágica. In 2021 he blew 18 after falling in his match against Rafael Nadal of the second round, and yesterday, he blew 19 after winning the place in the quarterfinals by beating Cameron Norrie and meeting the Balearic Islands in the quarterfinals (today, 4:00 p.m., La 1).
Almost the same photo, but nothing is the same in Carlos Alcaraz. His wish from last year was fulfilled: he is better, much better, than the one who took a lesson from the Balearic Islands: in physique, in mentality, in ambition, in honors.
365 days ago he was 114 in the world and his showcase had not been opened yet. Today, she is 9 in the world (7 as of Monday) and they look at home Umag 2021, the ATP 500 in Rio de Janeiro and the Conde de Godó and the Masters 1,000 in Miami.
365 days ago I already had the style, the ability, the discipline, the resources; today also power, safety, physical, criteria.
In order for the blows to come out with the force and intelligence with which they come out, he has perfected the whole body. Also so that the gestures come out more natural, so that even the ideas are always fresh and they choose the best of the multiple resources because they do not have to spend energy knowing how to move on the ball. He has a large multidisciplinary team around him, based in Murcia and at the Equelite Academy of his coach, John Charles Ferrero. Everything necessary for the boy from El Palmar to evolve in body and mind in the right direction. With his physios, Juanjo Moreno and Sergio Hernández, and his physical trainers, Alejandro Sánchez and Alberto Lledó, he has become the athlete that is required now for today’s fast tennis and a little more. Weights to strengthen the muscles, although not so much because the kid is still growing and the body needs to evolve naturally, without many external disturbances.
But if there is one feature that stands out from his game, it is the right one. with which he is capable of remote control the ball and, in a moment, suddenly, make it lethal: hand back and one more point of speed in a thousandth of a second so that the racket becomes a whip. One that does not tame lions, but the ball and, therefore, the rivals.
“His right? Hahaha,” he laughs. Nicoloz Basilashvili when asked about her. “Very good right, very good right,” and he smiles again. The Georgian suffered it at the premiere of Alcaraz at the Caja Mágica. And that was not the forceful Alcaraz that has revolutionized the tennis planet. It was difficult for him to start, to adapt to the height, somewhat hesitant with all her blows, somewhat more unsuccessful than what he has accustomed to the staff. But he finished the champion he already is. Leader with that drive that started to bite warming up with the mood of the public. The stands also exercised with him, getting up and sitting down, because, in addition to tennis, there is a show. Basilashvili laughs, “very good forehand.”
Analyze it in more depth Marc López, who chose him as a doubles partner to say goodbye to the competition at this Mutua Madrid Open. So he has heard and seen well how Alcaraz observes, thinks, throws his arm back and draws his weapon. “She is currently one of the best in the world. She has incredible acceleration and ball speed and apart from that, she knows how and when she has to hit it. He is an aggressive player who is always weight forward. He also uses the right drop shot. The opponents expect the typical ‘winner’ with an accelerated forehand and he also has this resource that he uses very well».
With the criteria of a player, but with an analyst perspective, he analyzes it Robert Carter. “It is a technical blow that he does very cleanly. With a short ‘overswing’ to the rear, that’s why it adapts very well to the fast track. We have to see how it adapts to the grass. But the effects are also very good on land. He has very good positions and supports to generate power, he always arrives well, he gets well behind the ball, he gets his hand out very well. At the time of the hit you can compare with that of Roger Federer, and a little that of Rafa Nadal when you have to defend. A fantastic shot that handles perfectly and fits very well. A right of ten », indicates the champion of the Hamburg Masters.
Alcaraz was discovered to the world in the US Open match in which he beat Stefanos Tsitsipas. The organization analyzed the Spaniard’s forehand: 97% effectiveness in the first set, 93% in the fifth; the average of the other players, 88%. 132 kilometers per hour in the first set, 130 in the fifth; 122, the others. 19% of winners, 15 in the fifth; 11% the average. 3% errors, 7% in the fifth, 11 in the mean. Consistency, speed, everything.
Until Alexander Zverev, owner of a catapult in his right hand due to his height, and voted his drive as the best of the new generation when he was 20 years old, admits that he had never seen someone who hit him with that speed, and moved so fast on the ball. Basilashvili also points out: “His baseline game is also very good, his service. He is very professional. Young, but he is doing very very well in recent months ».
Also
Martina Navratilova praises the whole set, and points to that very important factor in this tennis so fast and with so few options to position yourself well to hit the ball: «He also moves so well, that even when he is not in a good position, he can hit you. pull out a winner with that shot.”
That’s how forceful Jannik Sinner pronounces himself: “It’s the blow that would definitely steal him.”
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