Carlos Alcaraz is preparing to play the last tournaments of the season. The 21-year-old Spaniard will compete in the ATP 500 in Beijing on September 26th, a tournament where he reached the semi-finals last year losing to his great rival Jannik Sinner. The Spanish ace and the Italian champion split the Grand Slam tournaments this year: Jannik triumphed in Melbourne and New York, while Carlitos won the French Open and the Wimbledon Championships during the summer.
ADVERTISEMENT
While Sinner showed a crazy consistency throughout the season with a record 55 wins and 5 losses in 2024, Alcaraz had some drops that put him off the top of the ATP ranking. In particular, the four-time Grand Slam champion did not immediately metabolize his defeat in the final of the Paris Olympics and was eliminated at the second place at the US Open.
The former world number 1 will not have many points to defend from here to the end of the season, a further reason to try to achieve good results. His main goals will be the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin and the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga, where he hopes to lead his Spain to an incredible triumph in front of its crowd. In addition to Carlitos, also 22-timeGrand Slam champion Rafael Nadal could be present in Malaga.
What a show
Meanwhile, Alcaraz played a decisive role in Team Europes victory over Team World at the 2024 edition of the Laver Cup (which took place in Berlin last weekend). Alcaraz has found the right brilliance after the final at the Olympic Games in Paris. The Spaniard, after his painful defeat against Novak Djokovic, who took away his gold medal, has experienced a period of mistiness in which he has not been able to express himself at his best. The first round starts in Cincinnati and Us Open have weighed heavily on his head, but a few weeks later, the four-time Slam champion seems to have found himself again, but above all, his tennis.
ADVERTISEMENT
The proof is the wonderful week lived in Berlin with his teammates in Laver Cup, in which he delighted the audience, who could boast of the presence of Roger Federer, with some plays from the book. Carlos was the real driving force behind Team Europe, with three wins in four games played, two of which were on Sunday, where each match was worth three points.
During the award to 21 year old from Murcia was asked for an opinion on a rather important comparison, that his opponents gave him, that with Roger Federer. Fed 05? "Im far from that level. I hope to reach it one day but its impossible. They will have to change it because that is Rogers," the former number one replied with great humility.
"Im really happy, of course our goal was to win the Laver Cup. We did it. It felt good. I wont lie. Celebrating with the other guys on the team is an even better feeling. So personally Im really happy. After the match of Zverev that did really well it was time for me to do my job.
ADVERTISEMENT
I was a little nervous. I tried not to show Taylor that I was but I think I played one of my best matches so far. I tried to be as calm as possible. Obviously having the other guys on the team who have supported me behind me is something that gives energy and helps to get the most out of it", he explained. The Laver Cup has confirmed to be a very successful event and an enormous attraction for fans. Nadals absence didnt have much of a bearing on the success of the event, with Borg and McEnroe being replaced by new captains next year.
A special edition
After the event, Team Europes captain Bjorn Borg praised all the players: Thanks to the team for the spirit they've shown, we had a great week together. Honestly, we had some issues since Sunday morning, but these guys always end up coming through. It's been incredible, I'm very happy, truly happy, this has been my last year at the Laver Cup,so having this team with me has been beautiful, really nice.
ADVERTISEMENT
These guys face each other every week, throughout the calendar weeks, so I'm especially happy for the energy generated within the group. They know perfectly how to play, what to do at each moment, my role as captain is to help that energy keep flowing. Even during the matches themselves, even if they have a couple of bad games, whatever happens, that energy eventually does the rest.
