ATP legend reveals how many Slams Carlos Alcaraz will win

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Carlos Alcaraz made his singles debut at the Paris Olympics, the first of his young career. The 21-year-old from Murcia easily defeated Hady Habib with a score of 6-3 6-1 in an hour and 12 minutes. The four-time Grand Slam champion played a solid and orderly match, avoiding distractions that could allow his opponent to gain confidence.

It’s no secret that Carlitos wants to win the gold medal in Paris and is the big favorite on red clay at the French Open, especially after the shocking forfait of Italian ace Jannik Sinner. Alcaraz has become the number 2 in seeding and has a fairly favorable board, but he will have to be good at managing the pressure from a unique event like the Olympics.

Carlos Alcaraz, 2024 Paris Olympics© Clive Brunskill / Staff - Getty Images Sport  

The former world number 1 is delighted to be taking part in his first Olympics and has decided to stay at the Olympic village instead of a hotel to fully enjoy the atmosphere. The young Spaniard is experiencing a moment of great confidence, having won the French Open and the Wimbledon Championships in just over a month.

Thanks to these two successes, Alcaraz has confirmed that he is the king of men’s tennis despite being number 3 in the ATP ranking behind Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic. Carlos will face the winner of the match between Cameron Norrie and Tallon Griekspoor on Monday, July 29th.

Carlos Alcaraz had not started the season well because of some injuries, but in spring he found his best level again by winning the Indian Wells Masters 1000. The former world number 1 won the 2024 French Open and the 2024 Wimbledon Championships, becoming the youngest ever to achieve this feat in the same year.

Becker pays tribute to Carlitos

Speaking with Eurosport, ATP legend and top analyst Boris Becker paid tribute to Carlitos: “Look, I think the sky is the limit for Alcaraz. The question is, how long can he stay hungry and how long can he stay injury free? He plays a very physical brand of tennis and he has been prone to injuries in the past, so I am keeping my fingers crossed that he can stay fit. Look, if he can keep it going at his current levels for 10 years, I wouldn’t be surprised if he doesn’t have double-digit Grand Slam titles. That means he will get to ten and then who knows how many. What we have to say is there is a long road ahead and there are a lot of things that can come around the corner.”

Carlos Alcaraz© Matthew Stockman / Staff Getty Images Sport  

Despite having already won several important titles, Alcaraz has never forgotten his origins. The Spaniard still lives in the Academy of his coach Juan Carlos Ferrero and has maintained a close relationship with his family. "When I finish a tournament, it doesn’t matter if I win or not, I just want to get home to be with my family. I live with my mum and dad, my older brother and two younger brothers. To them I am not a big tennis star, just a normal guy," Carlos Alcaraz stated.

"One of the things about tennis is that you travel a lot and my dad and older brother come with me. My older brother is my hitting partner. But Mum can’t come because she is looking after the two little ones. So getting home is great because I miss them. The longer you are away, the more you realise how much you need them," he continued.

Alcaraz wants to make history

Alcaraz has already broken several records at his age and seems to be one of the greatest ever. The young Spaniard has always admired legends like Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, who have made tennis history in the last 15 years. Carlitos is able to reach very high peaks and beat anyone, but he is not yet continuous throughout the year. After winning at Wimbledon last year, Carlos did not win a title for 8 months and his coach Juan Carlos Ferrero explained that he must remain professional throughout the season.

Carlos Alcaraz© Clive Mason / Staff Getty Images  

At just 21, Alcaraz already has a technical completeness that shocks fans and experts. The young Spaniard is capable of performing all the shots on the tennis court and is perhaps the most spectacular player of the entire tour. Carlitos will be able to go for the assault of the number 1 ATP in the second part of the season, since Sinner will have to defend many points in the autumn. The Spaniard had not excelled on the indoor hard court last year, showing that he still has some shortcomings in those particular conditions.

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/OjsSdex

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