Carlos Alcaraz reloads: New racquet and serve intention for Aussie glory

Carlos Alcaraz had an awesome 2024 season, claiming two Main titles and writing historical past books. Nonetheless, the Spaniard did not wrap up the 12 months within the top-2 like in 2022 and 2023, ending behind Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev.

Carlos has been working arduous on enhancements forward of 2025, with Juan Carlos Ferrero and Samuel Lopez bringing new components to his recreation. The 21-year-old’s fine-tuning features a barely heavier racquet and modifications to the service mechanics.

However actually, the entire match was a spotlight.

These two are THEM.pic.twitter.com/2RoEOjdO6H

— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) October 2, 2024

The Spaniard is utilizing the brand new Babolat racquet with 5 grams of lead tape added to its neck, in search of larger energy and weight behind his strokes.

Carlos Alcaraz, ATP Finals 2024© Stream screenshot

Ferrero and Lopez wished to make the most of Carlos’ excellent acceleration and make his strokes much more deadly. By Lopez’s phrases, the advance is already there, particularly on the return. Alcaraz additional refined his elevated flat-hitting fashion with new strings.

The younger Spaniard additionally carried out a pivotal change to his service movement, including one other weapon to his wealthy arsenal. Alcaraz has embraced a single-motion rhythm. The younger gun seeks consistency behind the preliminary shot and extra dependable efficiency.

Let’s not neglect that Carlos hit over 100 double faults and received damaged over 100 occasions in 2024! He desires to vary that and put extra stress on his opponents. World no. 3 will fly to Melbourne on January 4, hoping to battle for the one lacking Main crown in his assortment.

Carlos is 7-3 on the Australian Open. He debuted as a qualifier in 2021, turning into the youngest participant with a win in Melbourne since Thanasi Kokkinakis. The younger gun misplaced to Matteo Berrettini after a thriller in 2022 and missed the primary Main of the season a 12 months later attributable to an damage.

The Spaniard notched his first Australian Open quarter-final final 12 months. He fell to Alexander Zverev in 4 units after not enjoying at his greatest, particularly originally of the duel.