Carlos Alcaraz returned to Buenos Aires to win an official match after more than three months since his last appearance, which dates back to last season, when Bercy suffered an abdominal tear at the Masters 1000 in Paris that made him miss the first and deserved ATP Finals.
A victory, the one achieved against Laslo Djere, was not without difficulties for the Spanish phenomenon, who, due to the long period of inactivity, had trouble maintaining a high level throughout the match. The 19-year-old recently declared that he had suffered from not being able to defend the world number one title, which was seized from him at the Australian Open by tournament winner Novak Djokovic.
The current number two, shortly before making his debut in the “Happy Slam” draw, suffered an injury to the semimembranosus muscle in his right leg during a training session. Injury that caused his immediate withdrawal from the first Grand Slam of the year and the loss of number one.
Now, however, the native of El Palmar has no intention of stopping and wants to go back to crushing points and performances on clay, which has contributed enormously, with the triumphs in the tournaments in Barcelona and especially Madrid, to the ride that last year he led the season to the all-time record for the youngest tennis player to reach first place in the history of the ATP Ranking.
With his victory in the round of 16 against the Serbian, the reigning US Open champion reached his 28th victory in 32 matches played on clay since the beginning of 2022. No one has done better than him in this period on this surface, not even the “King of clay”, Rafael Nadal.
The hit percentage (87.5%) is really scary and reminds the numbers of his compatriot. The question is posed to all the followers of the young Spaniard.
Mark Petchey praises Alcaraz
Opinions are divided on Carlos Alcaraz and some specialists consider that the game offered by the Spaniard is unique.
Consisting of speed, power and endurance, Carlos embodies, according to them, a total tennis that we have never seen on the modern circuit. This is what, for example, Mark Petchey thinks. “I don’t believe @carlosalcaraz is a 20 time Major Champion as this number has become become ‘normalised’.
He may not win 10. However, just like Bjorn Borg, I do believe he will be one of the most influential tennis players the game has ever had with the way he plays.”
