Carlos Alcaraz’s season ended on November nineteenth, when Rafael Nadal performed the final match of his profession. There have been excessive expectations on Spain on the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga, however the run of the native idols ended already on Day 1 in opposition to an amazing Netherlands (who solely misplaced to Italy within the remaining).
The 21-year-old from Murcia would have appreciated to present one final nice pleasure to his illustrious compatriot, however some fallacious decisions by captain David Ferrer and Carlitos’ inexperience in doubles condemned Spain to a really disappointing end result.
The 4-time Grand Slam champion may be very glad together with his outcomes this yr, though he has lacked some consistency that will have allowed him to be nearer to his nice rival Jannik Sinner within the ATP rankings.
Carlos Alcaraz, Queens 2024© Stream screenshot
The Spaniard has additionally been overtaken by Sascha Zverev within the final tournaments of the season and can be seeded quantity 3 on the subsequent Australian Open, with the chance of getting to face Sinner already within the semifinals. Carlitos discovered some crucial classes in 2024 and can use the pre-season to work on some points of his recreation.
Alcaraz additionally needs to enhance when it comes to psychological energy, with the intention to scale back the variety of ups and downs in the course of the season. His coach Juan Carlos Ferrero is insisting on these points to permit his participant to change into even higher.
Carlitos will play two extra matches
After the Davis Cup Finals, the Spaniard flew to the Dominican Republic together with his brother Alvaro to get pleasure from a number of days of trip.
To be exact, Carlos has not performed his final match in 2024. After this quick trip, the world quantity 3 will transfer to New York to take part in an exhibition referred to as ‘The Backyard Cup’. The 4-time Grand Slam champion will face younger American Ben Shelton at Madison Sq. Backyard on December 4th. On the identical night time, US Open finalist Jessica Pegula will face Emma Navarro.
Simply two days later, Carlitos will headline ‘The Charlotte Invitational’, one other efficiency through which he’ll face Frances Tiafoe. The opposite match of the night time would be the one between Madison Keys and Sloane Stephens. The latter occasion can be held on the Spectrum Middle, the sector of the Charlotte Hornets.
Carlos Alcaraz© cinch Championships/Instagram – Truthful Use
The previous world No. 1 will put together in Spain earlier than leaving for Australia after Christmas. As in previous years, the Spaniard is not going to play any official match earlier than the Australian Open in 2025. Alcaraz’s aim is to play higher at Melbourne Park than in previous editions, through which he has by no means gone past the quarter-finals.
Alcaraz has his certainties
The help of his household and his coach Ferrero is essential for Carlos, who typically seeks the gaze of his mentor in probably the most difficult moments of the match.
“Juan Carlos and I have spent a lot of time together, many years,” stated Alcaraz throughout a current interview. “We have great trust. Of course, it’s important having him there with me, it’s a great help. We know how to communicate at all times, having him there in the box is genuinely a huge boost, it’s great to have him with me” – he added.
The Spaniard additionally talked about his household: “My older brother Alvaro, he’s obviously a big support, I’m really lucky having him there on the team, having him at most tournaments. Now my father and uncle also travel a lot, I think it’s important to have that part of my family at the tournaments I play in.
At the end of the day, if you’re on court for two or three hours a day, the rest of the time you’re off court, and I’m really a family person who needs his loved ones close by. That’s what gives me peace of mind and makes me feel good. Not missing home so much.
I don’t see them much, and they’re at school right now, it’s difficult for them to travel, but there are a few tournaments they’ve come to and seeing them there with me makes me very happy. When I get home, I try not to make them see me as Carlos the tennis player, but as their older brother, but they’re at a difficult age.”
Though the 2024 season has simply ended, some particulars about Alcaraz’s schedule in 2025 are already identified. In contrast to in recent times, the Spaniard is not going to play tournaments on purple clay in South America however will take part within the Rotterdam ATP 500 in February. The 21-year-old from Murcia needs to enhance in indoor situations and has chosen a really prestigious match earlier than the Masters 1000 in Indian Wells (the place he received two titles in a row) and Miami (the place he received in 2022).
