Carlos Alcaraz might be actually happy with the outcomes he has achieved as much as this stage of his profession. At simply 21 years previous, the younger Spaniard has already gained 4 Grand Slam titles and 5 Masters 1000. As if that wasn’t sufficient, the champion from Murcia additionally gained the silver medal on the Paris Olympics and was world #1 for 36 weeks.
2024 has been very constructive for the 21-year-old from Murcia, who has as soon as once more proven that he has the proper expertise to make historical past within the sport. The present world No. 3 turned the youngest participant ever to win Roland Garros and Wimbledon in the identical 12 months, not forgetting his successes on the Indian Wells Masters 1000 and the distinguished Beijing ATP 500.
Nick Kyrgios and Carlos Alcaraz© YouTube screenshot
The Spaniard has lacked a little bit of consistency this 12 months, which is why he’s virtually 5000 factors behind Jannik Sinner and has been overtaken by Sascha Zverev within the latter a part of the season. The German ace gained the Rolex Paris Masters and reached the semifinals on the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin, whereas Carlitos was eradicated within the group stage on the Finals additionally as a result of a flu virus.
The previous world #1 has very formidable objectives for 2025, by which he’ll attempt to win no less than yet another Grand Slam match and get nearer to the highest place within the ATP rating. His season will start straight on the Australian Open, the place he has carried out a really cautious preparation in Juan Carlos Ferrero’s Academy.
The 4-time Grand Slam champion has not had a particular feeling with AO thus far, having by no means gone past the quarterfinals (reached in 2024). Carlos should play his finest tennis from the start of the season and decrease the ups and downs, in any other case will probably be inconceivable for him to dethrone Sinner.
Alcaraz goals for the Slams
Many followers and insiders have observed how Alcaraz’s stage is sort of at all times very excessive in Main tournaments, whereas his depth drops in second-tier tournaments.
Alcaraz© Stream screenshot
On the most recent version of the ‘Nothing Major’ podcast, former American star Steve Johnson highlighted an enormous distinction between Carlitos’ schedule and that of his illustrious compatriot Rafa Nadal: “Looking back at Rafa’s career, someone I’m sure he looked up to quite a bit, he played every tournament and won every Masters series forever but was hurt a lot.
I feel like Carlos Alcaraz is doing his schedule strictly to win Slams.
He is missing Masters series, he skipped Madrid, or he’s not playing Montreal or whatever, I think his only goal is to win Slams.
Steve continued: “He wants to get to that 20 number. Maybe I am wrong on that but that is what it feels like his schedule is doing.
He is missing certain events that Rafa never missed in his career but ultimately had a lot of injuries.”
New tournaments in 2025
The Spanish ace’s schedule in 2025 will likely be completely different from current years. After the Australian Open, scheduled at Melbourne Park from 12 to 26 January, the present world quantity 3 won’t play tournaments on pink clay in South America. Carlitos needs to enhance his stage in indoor circumstances and has chosen to take part within the prestigious Rotterdam ATP 500 in February, earlier than additionally enjoying the Doha ATP 500.
After these two occasions, the 21-year-old from Murcia will transfer to Puerto Rico to play an exhibition match with American ace Frances Tiafoe in early March. It has already been introduced that Alcaraz will play the Barcelona ATP 500, the distinguished Queen’s match earlier than Wimbledon and the Laver Cup in 2025.
Carlos Alcaraz, Laver Cup 2024© Stream screenshot
Ferrero won’t be his solely coach subsequent 12 months, however the Spaniard may even have the help of Samuel Lopez. The latter ended his lengthy affiliation with Pablo Carreno Busta and accepted the supply of Carlitos, who wanted one other coach for some tournaments throughout subsequent season.
In a protracted interview with ‘Punto de Break’, Ferrero defined what he has been engaged on with Alcaraz in current weeks: “I like how he is tackling the preseason; I see him very focused on what he wants to improve or what didn’t go so well this year.
Those ups and downs in matches, for example, he knows he needs to improve them because it’s more mental than tennis-related.
We seek continuous evolution. What does this mean? We aim for a player who is a ’10’ in practically everything. Carlos has very high numbers in some aspects and lower ones in others. We need to enhance his strengths and improve his weaknesses.”
In simply over two weeks, the primary Main of the brand new season will start and we can have all of the solutions.
