Carlos Alcaraz’s season has been distinctive for a participant of solely 21 years outdated. Nonetheless, the Spanish champion will not be a participant like every other and expectations are very excessive. The previous world No. 1 turned the youngest ever to win the French Open and Wimbledon Championships in the identical yr, demonstrating a versatility that has only a few equals within the historical past of the game.
Botic van de Zandschulp & Carlos Alcaraz, US Open 2024© Stream screenshot
The 4-time Grand Slam champion defeated Novak Djokovic in London for the second yr in a row, triumphing at Church Highway because of a powerful efficiency within the last. The previous world No. 1 additionally gained the Indian Wells Masters 1000 confirming the 2023 title, the ATP 500 in Beijing and the silver medal on the Paris Olympics throughout the summer season.
On the similar time, Carlitos had some fairly unhealthy moments throughout the season. The 21-year-old from Murcia was affected by a forearm damage throughout the spring and was significantly affected by the loss to Nole within the last of the Olympic match.
Alcaraz was eradicated within the second spherical on the US Open and admitted that he misplaced the need to play throughout that point, earlier than recovering it because of the Davis Cup and the Laver Cup. The present world quantity 3 has had a lackluster final a part of the season, having achieved disappointing outcomes at each the ATP Finals in Turin and the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga.
Paul Annacone on Alcaraz’s season
The Spanish champion is aware of the place he wants to enhance in view of the beginning of subsequent season, by which he should attempt to be extra constant by avoiding ups and downs. Solely better regularity will enable him to return to the highest of the ATP rating.
Though Carlitos is already a terrific champion, it won’t be simple for him to overhaul Jannik Sinner both, who’s going by the most effective second of his total profession. The Italian ace is nearly 5000 factors forward of the Spaniard, because of a win charge that exceeds 90% in 2024.
On the most recent version of the ‘Inside-In’ podcast, former Roger Federer’s coach Paul Annacone commented on Alcaraz’s 2024 season: “You have to find what motivates you and stick with it. And I think Carlos Alcaraz is a joyful player. I think this year he lost a little bit of that joy, for a multitude of reasons.
I think one of his greatest accomplishments was one of the biggest obstacles he had to overcome this year, which was getting ‘only’ a silver medal.
That’s a great accomplishment, but I think it broke his heart a little bit at the Olympics, and I think it messed him up a little bit for the rest of the summer.”
He continued: “I thought he recovered when he won in Beijing, but he’s had a couple of losses since then and got sick before the year-end championship. So, it’s been a little choppy for him, but he has such a good head on his shoulders and a great team around him. There’s no reason that that’s not going to be just a blip
After winning the Beijing ATP 500 by defeating Sinner in a beautiful final, Carlitos struggled to play his best tennis in the last tournaments of the season. The former world No. 1 was eliminated by Tomas Machac in the quarterfinals of the Rolex Shanghai Masters, lost to Ugo Humbert in the round of 16 of the Rolex Paris Masters and did not reach the semifinals at the ATP Finals (due to a flu virus). The atmosphere of the Davis Cup didn’t help him either, as his Spain suffered a shocking quarter-final elimination against Netherlands.
A little break
The young Spaniard will now enjoy a holiday period to recover energy after a very tough season, in which there were also the Olympics. The world number 3 is not expected to play official tournaments before the Australian Open, in which he will try to win the fifth Major title of his career.
Carlos Alcaraz & Alexander Zverev, ATP Finals 2024© Stream screenshot
Because of the unhealthy outcomes obtained within the final tournaments of 2024, Alcaraz would be the quantity 3 seed in Melbourne and will must face Sinner within the semifinals. The 4-time Grand Slam champion will put together in Spain collectively together with his coach Juan Carlos Ferrero. In the course of the pre-season, the 21-year-old from Murcia may even do some observe periods with younger Briton Jack Draper, who reached the semifinals on the US Open this yr.
The previous world No. 1 will attempt to additional enhance his serve, which isn’t but very efficient on the quickest surfaces. The 21-year-old from Murcia admitted that he nonetheless wants to enhance on this basic, however he has a whole lot of time at his disposal.
