Carlos Alcaraz performed his first match in 2025, though it was solely an exhibition towards Alex de Minaur at Melbourne Park. The previous world No. 1 was defeated by the Australian ace within the super-tiebreak, exhibiting some constructive and unfavorable issues in the course of the problem.
Just a few days earlier than the beginning of the Australian Open, the younger Spanish champion will nonetheless should follow laborious to be in high form. There isn’t any doubt that the brand new motion of the servant has been a profit to this shot, making it smoother and extra unpredictable.
Alcaraz© Laver Cup/truthful use
Utilizing a racket that’s 5 grams heavier helps Carlitos unleash much more energy together with his forehand, one thing that might be very useful on sooner surfaces. On the similar time, the match towards de Minaur confirmed that the 4-time Grand Slam champion nonetheless has to work on some features of his recreation.
A heavier racket takes away some management, which is why the 21-year-old from Murcia has made so many unforced errors towards the Australian. As well as, his backhand typically appeared to endure on this courtroom and the errors had been too many for a participant of this caliber.
Carlitos can enhance
The present world quantity 3 nonetheless has a couple of days earlier than the beginning of the Completely satisfied Slam and can be capable of enhance these particulars.
Carlos Alcaraz© Stream screenshot
On the most recent version of his podcast, former ATP ace Andy Roddick revealed Carlitos’ areas of enchancment: “Being healthy and doing it all the time and winning 70-plus matches like Jannik Sinner did in 2024.”
He additionally added: “We forget that he didn’t win a tournament between Wimbledon and Indian Wells, and then he missed the entire clay-court season and then he lost to Botic van de Zandschulp at the US Open. He then beat Sinner over in Asia and then loses a couple of weird ones at the end of the year. What went right in 2024? I won majors! I won my second Wimbledon title.”
