Carlos Alcaraz has been one of many nice protagonists of this season, which didn’t have the conclusion he would have preferred. The younger Spanish champion hoped to shine on the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin and the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga, however in each instances his run ended a lot sooner than anticipated.
On the ATP Finals – the place he had reached the semifinals in 2023 – he was eradicated already within the group stage having received just one match (in opposition to Andrey Rublev) and having suffered two defeats (in opposition to Casper Ruud and Sascha Zverev).
Nonetheless, it’s honest to level out that Carlitos had arrived in Turin with signs of a flu virus and was unable to play his greatest tennis. The world quantity 3 nonetheless has to enhance so much in indoor circumstances, the place his weapons appear much less efficient and his variations don’t put his rivals in hassle as on different surfaces.
Carlos Alcaraz & Tallon Griekspoor, Davis Cup Finals 2024© Stream screenshot
On the Davis Cup Finals – the final occasion of Rafa Nadal’s profession – Spain was eradicated by Netherlands within the quarterfinals and the run led to entrance of its residence followers. The 21-year-old from Murcia would have preferred to present his illustrious compatriot one final trophy earlier than retiring, however some incorrect decisions condemned the Spanish group to a stunning elimination.
The Spanish ace’s 2024 has been stuffed with ups and downs as in earlier seasons. The 4-time Grand Slam champion has reached really distinctive peaks, particularly between spring and summer time, however has struggled to be constant all through the season. It’s no coincidence that – though Alcaraz received Roland Garros and Wimbledon this yr – his distance from Jannik Sinner within the ATP rating quantities to virtually 5000 factors.
The 21-year-old from Murcia defeated his nice Italian rival 3 times in as many official matches in 2024, however had too many drops in Masters 1000 tournaments (during which he solely achieved 75% of wins). The elimination within the second spherical of the US Open made the distinction, permitting even Sascha Zverev to get nearer within the rating and overtake Carlos within the final tournaments of the season.
ATP 2024 Awards nominations revealed
In the meantime, ATP has introduced the well-known end-of-season awards. The present world quantity 3 has been chosen as one of many nominees for the ‘Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award’, an award he had already received in 2023.
The previous world no 1 is resting on this interval, ready to begin getting ready for subsequent season. Carlitos will play an exhibition match with Ben Shelton at Madison Sq. Backyard in New York in December, whereas he’s not anticipated to take part in official tournaments earlier than the Australian Open.
In an interview with Tennis Majors, prime coach Patrick Mouratoglou analyzed Alcaraz’s season highlighting the variations between him and Sinner: “So far I see Alcaraz mostly beating him because Alcaraz can create more. He has this extra power and he can fight with him in terms of movement also.
The thing is, Alcaraz is making quite a lot of unforced errors where Sinner doesn’t. So the matches between them there are a lot of ups and downs and it changes often.
You know, the one is leading, then the other one takes over because when Alcaraz plays at his best I think he is able to be better than Sinner.”
He continued: “But he cannot play like this the whole match so Sinner is always stable. That’s why the matches are so close every time.
Sinner can hit a winner on every single shot. That’s the feeling and it is quite disturbing. You can never relax, you cannot build because you are always in danger, always on every shot.
But what I think the most important thing is not that you are in danger on every shot, which is the case, it is that he does it with consistency. Everything is controlled. He has this level of aggressiveness with the control at the same time and that is what makes him so special.”
Alcaraz will play at Queen’s
Just a few days in the past, it was introduced that Alcaraz will take part within the prestigious Queen’s ATP 500 once more subsequent yr. The younger Spaniard has already received at Queen’s in 2023, defeating Alex de Minaur within the ultimate and clinching his first title on grass. Carlos tried to defend his title in 2024 however – nonetheless drained after profitable the French Open – he was eradicated by a fantastic Jack Draper.
Carlos Alcaraz© cinch Championships/Instagram – Truthful Use
The 4-time Grand Slam champion considers Queen’s a vital event earlier than the Wimbledon Championships, the place he has triumphed within the final two editions. If he have been to win at Church Street for the third time in a row, the Spaniard would go down much more in tennis historical past.
