Carlos Alcaraz took a couple of days to settle his disappointment on the 2024 US Open. The younger Spaniard was one of many huge favorites in New York – the place he had triumphed two years in the past – and dreamed of profitable his third consecutive Main after the French Open and the Wimbledon Championships. Towards all odds, his run at Flushing Meadows ended within the second spherical in opposition to Botic van de Zandschulp, a participant who appeared very near retirement only a few months in the past.
The Dutch tennis participant had nothing to lose and performed an incredible match, however the former world no 1 took a psychological step again on a nasty day. The four-time Grand Slam champion was very self-critical in the course of the post-match press convention and didn’t wish to search for an alibi.
The 21-year-old from Murcia has performed lots within the final three months and it’s doubtless that he was not on the high of his type, as he had already proven within the Masters 1000 in Cincinnati. It might’t be a coincidence that each one 4 of the Olympic semi-finals have been eradicated within the first week of the US Open. As a result of untimely loss in NY – the place he reached the semi-finals final yr – Carlitos has virtually given up his possibilities of returning to the highest of the ATP rating by the top of 2024.
Alcaraz is prepared
Alcaraz continues to be very younger and has time to enhance mentally. The Spanish champion has already achieved superb outcomes for a participant of his age and is destined to make historical past of this sport. In the meantime, it has been reported that Carlitos has resumed practising on the Juan Carlos Ferrero Academy in view of the Davis Cup. The previous world no 1 will assist his Spain, which is enjoying in Valencia from tenth to fifteenth September.
With this smile and constructive vibes @carlosalcaraz has been practising to symbolize crew Spain🇪🇸 at @DavisCup
Vamos Carlitos!❤️🔥 #teamferrero #daviscup #teamspain pic.twitter.com/boXKhT3ALC
— Ferrero Tennis Academy (@Ferreroacademy) September 5, 2024
Throughout a latest interview, Italian legend Adriano Panatta spoke about Alcaraz: “I feel Carlos might be caught with the loss to Djokovic for a very long time. In tennis you might be solely on the courtroom, in soccer you can too not play in case you are not nicely, or there are associates who pull you up. This factor marked him, because it marked Djokovic from the nervous standpoint. He made a superhuman effort to win that last and can want time to get well. Lorenzo Musetti has achieved lots.”
Lately, 22-time Grand Slam champion and former World No.1 Rafael Nadal opened up on Carlos’ present standing: “I don’t assume Alcaraz is mentally struggling. I feel he’s only a bit drained and saturated. Perhaps from all that he’s achieved this summer season—profitable Roland Garros, Wimbledon, and reaching the Olympics last. Sooner or later, the thoughts wants a little bit of relaxation. I noticed he talked about having some points, however I don’t see any issues, fairly the other. What I see is that an Olympic yr with a good schedule might be actually demanding for somebody who’s achieved a lot.
I don’t assume it’s going to hurt him as a result of he’s adequate to deal with it. He’s on his personal path, and it’s extremely nice to see somebody like Carlos emerge after a profession like mine. It’s onerous for a rustic to supply a participant like Alcaraz proper after somebody like me. I feel he’s going to be one of many best in historical past, and I don’t assume evaluating him to me will have an effect on him. Not as we speak, anyway. As for the previous, I don’t know.”
The errors to be averted
The Spanish ace must be very cautious on this final a part of the season, making an attempt to keep away from making the identical errors as final yr. The present quantity 3 on the earth had a drastic drop within the second a part of 2023, particularly after dropping the ultimate in Cincinnati to Novak Djokovic. Alcaraz performed very badly on the indoor onerous courtroom and didn’t win even a title till Indian Wells 2024.
Throughout a latest interview with Tennis Majors, former Djokovic’s health coach Marco Panichi recalled the 2023 Cincinnati last: “For me, final yr’s last with Carlos Alcaraz in Cincinnati was one thing superb. That match was great, not solely from a tennis standpoint, but in addition mentally. Effort and resilience from these two nice gamers, it actually was one thing extraordinary. However probably the most fantastic second occurred within the locker room after the ultimate.
The blokes have been destroyed bodily as a result of it was so sizzling, however after three minutes we have been all laughing collectively, each groups. All of us loved what we did. In fact, Carlos was slightly bit unhappy at first, however he was good after some time too. That second was lovely – they have been ’enemies’ on courtroom, sporting enemies, however after…unbelievable.”
