Carlos Alcaraz can still break an impressive record

Advertisemen

It is no mystery that Carlos Alcaraz had very important ambitions for this edition of the 2025 Australian Open. The former world No. 1 had worked hard in the off-season to play his best tennis at Melbourne Park and had succeeded in doing so in the first week of the Happy Slam.

The young Spanish champion went into the quarter-final match against Novak Djokovic as the big favorite according to bookmakers, despite the Serbian legend winning ten titles 'Down Under' and making history in this tournament.

The 21-year-old from Murcia won the first set against Nole, before the latter began to show an adductor injury. Carlitos lost concentration at that moment, lowered his level of play and allowed the 24-time Grand Slam champion to come back.

In the third and fourth sets, the current world number 3 no longer found the right solutions to counter Djokovic who prevailed in four sets to reach his 50th semifinal in a Major tournament.

Alcaraz took a flight from Melbourne on Wednesday and landed in Spain today, before taking a few days off. The former world No.1 will return to practice early next week to prepare for the Rotterdam ATP 500, which he will participate in for the first time in his career and which will take place from February 3 to 9.

Carlitos still has time

At 21 years and 266 days, Carlos hoped to become the youngest player ever to win all four Grand Slam titles. The Spaniard will still have a year to break this record, which is currently held by Don Budge. The latter was 22 years and 363 days old when he won the French Open in 1938.

In the Open Era – on the other hand – the record belongs to Rafael Nadal, who lifted the trophy at the US Open when he was 24 years and 102 days old.

Carlitos was very sad because of the loss to Djokovic in Melbourne, but he still has time to make history in this sport.

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/gcbe1CZ

Advertisemen

 Tennis