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2022 was the year of consecration for the young Spanish talent Carlos Alcaraz. The 19-year-old from Murcia won several tournaments and closed the season with an extraordinary victory at the 2022 US Open, the first Grand Slam of his career and a success that allowed him to become number one in the world.
Carlos has been designated in Spain as the heir to Rafael Nadal, while internationally many have pigeonholed him in the role of who will take the place of the big three. Unfortunately, after his victory, the Murcian talent had to deal with several physical problems, problems that first prevented him from playing in the ATP finals in Turin and then continued this year.
During the preparation for the new season, Alcaraz suffered a new physical problem, which forced him to skip the Australian tour. Djokovic's victory in Melbourne also deprived him of the top spot in the standings, and now fans are eagerly awaiting his return to the courts.
Alcaraz is a high-level talent, a tennis player capable of combining athletic quality with great technical ability. One of the most interesting shots of the Iberian tennis player is the drop shot, a shot that he literally takes and that has driven all his rivals crazy.
The Spanish tennis player spoke about his blows to the Tennis TV microphones and made the following statements: "Every time I try to see when the opponent is very far from the baseline and at that moment making a drop shot is easier for me." Carlos then spoke about the possibility of using this shot against Novak Djokovic or Rafael Nadal and his words are forceful: "I want to say that it is very difficult to take a drop shot against Rafa or even like Novak Djokovic".
Injured in his right leg in training a few days before the Australian Open, Carlos Alcaraz is preparing to return to the courts at the ATP 250 in Buenos Aires next week (February 13-19).
Alcaraz hasn't played competitively since the Paris Masters
As quoted by Marca, Carlos Alcaraz talked about how Nadal is looked up to by not just him but all Spanish fans for what he brings to the court and beyond.
"He was my childhood idol, and he is the idol of all Spanish fans of tennis and sports in general because of his career, his charisma, his work, his mentality," he said. "It's going to be my first tournament since Paris. Four months have passed, but I always think about winning.
I know it's not going to be easy after not competing for so long. I've come a few days before to train with good players and pick up that pace. I know my coach won here, and he has told me good things about the tournament," the 19-year-old said.
