Carlos Alcaraz is looking ahead to Australia
TENNIS
The Spanish tennis star and number 1 in the ranking in the ATP 2022 keeps working on his abdominal while he focuses on the Australian Open 2023
- EFE
wires
Spanish tennis player Carlos Alcaraz has stated that he’s focused on 2023 Australian Open and that his abdominal injury is “doing well, improving day by day.”
Alcaraz is enjoying a few days off in Tenerife “to regain strength and go back on the court,” he stated in a press conference this Tuesday.
Despite reaching the top spot in the ranking at only 19 years old, Alcaraz states that it doesn’t put any pressure on him: “I try to take it lightly and never forget that no matter what happened, I have to enjoy tennis and play my way.”
According to Alcaraz, the injury he suffered in the quarterfinals of the Masters 1000 Paris-Bercy 2022 is evolving well, but it still has some weeks to be at 100% and train normally,” he will use this time to pepare mentally ahead of next season given that “it will be a complicated season because I’m starting as the favorite, and there will be a lot of pressure on my shoulders.”
“I’m trying to enjoy the good part without it going to my head. In the end, beating your heroes is incredible,” the star added.
Regarding his heroes in the sport, Alcaraz pointed out that he tries to ignore the comparisons with Rafa Nadal and simply “enjoy the journey.”
“It makes no sense to compare. It doesn’t matter that I’m number 1 now, Rafa’s career and history also matter a lot,” he acknowledged, adding that he hopes to be at least half as good as Rafa Nadal.
Alcaraz continued: “It’s a pleasure for everyone to see Rafa on the court,” so he believes that the current number 2-ranked player should put off his plans to retire from the tournaments: “He’s too good to leave right now.”
During the press conference, Alcaraz also stated his support for Spain in the World Cup Qatar 2022, adding that he will support the team from home with total faith in the team.
Regarding the controversy surrounding the World Cup in Qatar, including the fact that several important figures in football have decided not to attend, Alcaraz let out that “every country has its rules, and we have to accept that.”
Finally, the star has praised the island of Tenerife because, in his opinion, it’s the best place to recover and think about the Australian Open since the weather on the island is similar.
