Carlos Alcaraz raises a lot of expectations this year in every tournament in which he competes, no matter how big this one is. It is the case of Monte Carlo Masters 1,000where they have not yet been able to see the new star of Spanish and world tennis in action. The 18-year-old Murcian appears this Wednesday (11:00, #Vamos) before the high society of the Principality against Sebastian KordaAmerican of 22 and 42º of the world whom he beat last year in the match for the title of the NextGen ATP Finals.
Alcaraz arrives as 11th in the ranking, but he is the eighth seed due to the absences of Medvedev, Nadal and Berrettini, although his vitola is the great favorite because a couple of Sundays ago he was proclaimed champion in another Masters 1,000, one of the most difficult, the one in Miami. Oblivious to the siren songs that reach him from all over the planet (“He will be the best of all time,” says Rick Macci, former coach of the Williams sisters), the boy assures that he faces this new and exciting commitment “without haste” . “Sometimes it’s difficult, but I’m trying to take it easy. I’m doing everything for the first time, I’m giving it my all, trying to control my nerves. I’m just focused on the first match.”warns the young prodigy from El Palmar in an interview with the ATP at a time when he was still hoping to meet number one, Novak Djokovic, in the quarterfinals. That will no longer happen due to the Serb’s defeat against Alejandro Davidovich, who could be his rival at that point.
The European clay-court swing opens in style with the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters, here’s what you need to know.@Emirates #ATPScoutingReport
— ATP Tour (@atptour) April 11, 2022
Alcaraz has loved Monaco: “This place is quite incredible. Playing here is very good. Before my first training session I took a picture of the views and the sea, it is quite beautiful”. Fame, victories and accolades do not affect your lifestyle or your personality. “I’ll still be the same person,” she says. “I will never change”. And to continue his progression in those terms of humility, he relies on his team, led by Juan Carlos Ferrero. “They help me a lot. Without them it would not be possible to be here, nor to have won my first Masters 1,000. They support me, they make an effort and they talk to me every day, telling me what I can improve, what I’m not doing well.”
A product of great interest
The media interest around Carlos is promoted by the ATP itself with its emerging star, who stood out in his Monte Carlo preview Djokovic as number one, Tsitsipas as defending champion, and Alcaraz as winner in Miami. Now it’s his turn to meet expectations on the track. This Wednesday also compete Albert Ramos, against Norrie (11:00) and Pablo Carreño against Bublik (15:00).
Results of the Masters 1,000 of Montecarlo.