Carlos Alcaraz, current Roland Garros champion, aims to keep his title. The clay-court season continues with the second Grand Slam tournament of the year, which begins on May 25. His recent quarterfinal run at the Barcelona Open had him wanting to think back on the merciless clay court circuit. His real-life experiences are what really put his tenacity and athleticism to the test.
During the dramatic title clash of the Barcelona Open, Alcaraz squarely set up against Dane Holger Rune. He was looking to win his third title in just four years at this prestigious invitational. Though he held a 2-1 advantage in the second set, Alcaraz faced a right leg issue that forced him to call for a medical timeout. He would fail to recover and lose the match 7-6, 6-2. This loss put an end to his phenomenal nine-match winning streak on clay.
In the wake of his win, Alcaraz admitted that exhaustion was the biggest factor in his body-breaking-down performance in the final. “That’s what happens when you play so many matches and have so few days to rest. It’s so demanding and you have to give 100 per cent every day,” he stated. This admission illustrates the pressure that the rigors of the clay swing can exact. From the casual jogger to the world’s most elite athletes, everyone feels its impact.
The young Spanish player expressed newfound admiration for his compatriot Rafa Nadal, whose accomplishments on clay have long been celebrated. Now having felt the strenuous demands of Europe’s claycourt swing up close and personal, Alcaraz’s admiration for Nadal is certainly heightened. He remarked, “I bow at the feet of Rafa because of what he did week after week. You have to respect that.”
Alcaraz continued to explain his admiration for Nadal’s back-to-back wins, pointing out how those accomplishments look so difficult to achieve. Fuming with jealousy, envy and rage, we commend Rafa for calling his shot on this global tour swing. Winning everything consecutively is impossible. Once you experience it, you appreciate what Rafa did much more and how difficult it is to be 100 per cent physically and mentally week after week,” he said.
Though Alcaraz took a loss in Barcelona, his confidence remains high heading into his upcoming appearances. He is now preparing for the Madrid Open and looking to return with a vengeance. “We’ll have two days off… I’ll talk with my team, we’ll do some tests, but I’m confident it won’t affect me in Madrid,” he added.
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