“That aspiration dimmed a bit,” Carlos Alcaraz reflects on his struggles after his first Grand Slam win
Alcaraz talks about competing for the No.1 rank, his US Open win and pulling out of the Australian Open
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Spanish teen sensation Carlos Alcaraz is claimed to be one of the biggest tennis stars of the future. In his conversation with Vogue, the 19-year-old reflected on his spectacular US Open win, the aftermath of the achievement, and his No. 1 world ranking. Alcaraz also comments on his retirement from the 2023 Australian Open.
Often compared to Rafael Nadal and known for his ingenious game, Alcaraz became the youngest No. 1 player last year. He is also the youngest top-ranked player in the year-end rankings. The youngster recently missed the Australian Open due to a right leg injury sustained during training.
Alcaraz commented on the injury, saying that he knows how well his body can function. He explained the limitations of his own body and how he needs to optimize his game. For Carlitos – stopping in time is also a victory. The player also said, ” I know where my limits are—when I need to stop when I need to push myself. I’ve learned how to do that. It’s better to stop in time to recover as quickly as possible.”
The Spaniard won his first-ever major title in New York last year, defeating Casper Ruud in a record-breaking final. Obviously, the feat was momentous for Alcaraz, however, it also had negative effects. Alcaraz elaborated that he ‘lost a little hope’. After achieving a life-long dream, World No.2 unintentionally lost his vigor.
The pressure to win again, and live up to his early reputation, caused the player stress. Carlos said, “I think what happened was, when I saw that I’d achieved what I’d dreamed of since I was a little kid, unconsciously that aspiration dimmed a bit.” He also added that it was hard to play after his win, he lost his momentum and could not enjoy the sport anymore. “Because no one was enjoying it; Juanki wasn’t, seeing me so shut down and lacking in spark. I thought, Where do I go now?”
Carlos Alcaraz praises the Big Three on their unwavering ambitions
Carlos Alcaraz described how disjointed and enjoyable tennis has become after his US Open win. Lifting the trophy had been a lifelong childhood dream for the Spaniard. Growing up, he used to admire Rafa and Federer, especially the latter for his elegant and effortless gameplay. Despite Nadal being from Spain himself, Alcaraz saw Federer as his role model.
Being No.1 was monumental for Alcaraz, but staying there is another matter altogether. Consequently, Djokovic stole the ranking from the youngster after winning his 10th Australian Open title this year. “What Rafa, Roger, and Djokovic have done is almost impossible,” Alcaraz said on the continuous enthusiasm to win, “I think when you’ve won your first Grand Slam you realize how complicated that is.”
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Tanisha Mohanty
(172 Articles Published)