Wimbledon: Carlos Alcaraz chasing the ‘massive guys’ | Tennis Information

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Proprietor of 4 Slam titles at 21, Alcaraz desires of in the future sitting ‘at identical desk’ as Djokovic, Nadal and Federer
LONDON: Carlos Alcaraz took possession of Wimbledon‘s Centre Court docket in signature fashion. The 21-year-old was leaping into the air and slamming forehands one minute and getting down on the grass and choosing up a volley off his shoelaces the subsequent.He was all around the court docket, masking floor, nook to nook, baseline to web and again once more with out actually breaking a sweat.
The Spaniard thumped down serves at 136 mph and got here up with feather mild dropshots. Like an actual property mogul marking territory, he knew each blade of grass on the rectangle. “I’ve by no means seen him serve that approach, 136. I’ve by no means seen him serve that quick,” Novak Djokovic marvelled.
Alcaraz, simply the second man within the Open Period to win his first 4 Grand Slam finals, Roger Federer gained his first seven, is in a race with the document books. “I’ve seen and heard all of the stats,” he mentioned. “I attempt not to consider it an excessive amount of. It is a actually nice begin to my profession, however I’ve to maintain going.”
Alcaraz has Djokovic’s 24 Grand Slams, Rafael Nadal 22 and Roger Federer 20 in his sights. That is the objective submit he is aiming for. “On the finish of my profession, I need to sit on the identical desk as the massive guys. That is my dream proper now,” the two-time Wimbledon champion mentioned. “It does not matter if I already gained 4 Grand Slams on the age of 21. If I do not hold going, it does not matter. I’ll attempt to hold successful and finish my profession with a whole lot of Grand Slam titles.”
The world No. 3, who turns to the golf course to calm down, reiterated the significance of constructing. Brick by brick. “I am pleased with the work I am doing with my staff, I am happy with myself, all of the issues that I am doing nice. It has been unbelievable, an incredible journey to this point,” mentioned Alcaraz, whose long-time coach Juan Carlos Ferrero has been the conductor of his profession.
“I do not know what my restrict is. I do not need to give it some thought,” he mentioned. “I simply need to hold having fun with my second, simply to maintain dreaming. So, let’s examine if on the finish of my profession it will be 25, 30, 15 or 4 (Slams). I do not know.”
Alcaraz, who had 21 forehand winners, and simply 10 unforced errors off that flank within the last in opposition to Djokovic, picked on his weapon when requested the place he might enhance. “I’ve to maintain bettering every little thing, I assume. My forehand, at this degree I feel it may be higher. Yearly it needs to be higher,” he mentioned. “I feel my sport usually can enhance. I’ve to continue to grow and hold bettering.”
Alcaraz, whose play appeared to have misplaced its edge within the second half of final 12 months, stumbling in massive matches, falling to Daniil Medvedev within the semifinals of the US Open, mentioned he wanted to develop up.
“I learnt rather a lot from that match in opposition to Daniil within the US Open in 2023,” he mentioned. “I needed to be extra mature in these conditions. I gave up somewhat bit. I keep in mind completely. I gave up somewhat bit within the second set after dropping the primary one. It’s unacceptable enjoying in a Grand Slam. I knew that these items cannot occur once more.”
“I am right here proper now thanks to those sorts of conditions that I realized from,” he added. Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, who between them have the season’s first three majors coated, have powered a change of guard. That is to not say Djokovic is completed, solely that the highest of the sport has an entire completely different vibe now.
“Being over there with Jannik, 21 years outdated and 22 years outdated within the prime of the rating, successful Grand Slams, I feel it’s good for tennis to have new faces successful the massive issues and preventing for the massive tournaments,” he mentioned. “I am glad to have him there. Now we have rivalry, younger gamers, preventing for these trophies. It is nice for the game, for the opposite gamers as nicely.”


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