A year ago, Carlos Alcaraz He was tired of everything, even sad, through the same pavilion, the Inalpi Arena in Turin. Even before his elimination in the group stage of the ATP Finals, the television interviews were very long and the press conferences were an ordeal. This season is another. Or, rather, this season it is him. The scenario is identical, it is also November, but these days in the north of Italy he is wearing his usual smile, the spirit that characterizes him, what the English call mood.
«When he plays with this mood It’s really hard to live up to it. When he is so happy he plays at his highest level, he uses all his weapons, he can create a winning shot from anywhere on the court,” his first victim in the tournament proclaimed this Sunday, Alex de Minaur. For the first time in his entire career, Alcaraz made his debut in a Masters Cup with a victory, against the Australian, 7-6(5) and 6-2 in one hour and 40 minutes of play. Beyond his tennis, with a very refined backhand and a discordant forehand, his joy was evident. He arrives happy, very happy.
«It has been a process. This year I have learned to realize what I need to stay motivated in the last few months, especially off the track. The season is very long and it is normal for there to be physical fatigue, but this time I have had more time to rest between tournaments, I have spent more days at home, and that has helped me stay fresh. I really want to win this tournament for the first time and I come with good feelings,” he said after the victory with so much energy that he was faced with a dilemma. Win the ATP Finals or win the Davis Cup, the other tournament left to play this season? No choice: better to win it all.
AFP
«Why choose? I want to do well here and then in the Davis Cup. “I really want to fight for both titles this year,” he proclaimed after spending a few minutes on the exercise bike, as always, and attending to one of the usual obligations in Turin: after each game, it is time to greet a Juventus player. This Sunday was Arkadiusz Milik.
The reverse, the best weapon
The defeat in the first round of the Paris Masters 1000 is already in the past, even more so in Turin, where the fast court is really fast and so much speed allows him to do more damage. Ante De Minaur showed that he has plenty of confidence; There is no more resistant adversary. In the first set he came back from 4-1 and 0-40 in favor and, in the second, he fought until the last point. Based on legs and attitude, his defense made Alcaraz begin to accumulate errors, especially with his right, but at no time did he despair. When it could not be by force, it was by precision, and thus the Spaniard disarmed his adversary.
With several very delicate blows, especially his parallel backhand, the Murcian prevailed despite having to go through tense moments, such as the tie-break of the first set, when he found himself 5-3 down. “Álex is very fast and that is why it is always difficult to play against him: you have to win the point three or four times,” said Alcaraz, who now sees a clear horizon.
He will rest this Monday, the day of the debut of Jannik Sinner ante Félix Auger-Aliassimeand on Tuesday they will face the winner of the duel between Taylor Fritz y Lorenzo Musetti. If the Spaniard wins then, he will already be classified for the semifinals and will have two games left, two opportunities, to mathematically secure number one at the end of the season. In principle, in this transit it should be Novak Djokovicbut his resignation from participating in the ATP Finals has simplified everything.
«When Novak is in the box, he always makes it more difficult, because of the experience he has. Last year I lost to him and I didn’t play badly, but he passed me by. “I’m not going to lie: I prefer to face Lorenzo, although he is also showing a very high level,” Alcaraz confessed in the bowels of the Inalpi Arena in Turin, where a year ago they saw him weakened, overcome by the demands of tennis, and now they finally enjoy him in all his splendor.