Carlos Alcaraz has won two Majors this year and the Indian Wells Masters 1000, as well as a silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The former world number 1 has had some ups and downs during the 2024 season, which is why he is more than 4000 points away from the top of the ATP ranking occupied by his great rival Jannik Sinner (who won two Majors).
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The four-time Grand Slam champion plays perhaps the best tennis ever and is able to reach really high peaks, but he must improve in terms of consistency to become number 1 in the world. The 21-year-old from Murcia was very disappointed after losing the final of the Olympic tournament this summer and did not play well at the US Open, where he was eliminated in the second round.
Carlitos seems to be back in good shape now, he shone in the Davis Cup and Laver Cup and is playing the ATP 500 in Beijing right now. The current number 3 in the world - who must defend the semi-final reached last year in China - defeated the dangerous Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard at the debut and will face Tallon Griekspoor tomorrow for a place in the quarterfinals.
Alcaraz has a huge goal
The former world number 1 is considered an inspiration by many players and his style of play is perhaps the most spectacular ever. The Spanish ace will try to close 2024 with great results. Despite some unexpected losses, Carlitos 2024 has been excellent so far with two Grand Slam titles and a Masters 1000.
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His main goals in the latter part of the season will be the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin and the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga, where 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafa Nadal is also expected to be present. Another goal for Alcaraz will be to overtake German ace Alexander Zverev in the ATP ranking by the end of the season to be the number 2 seed at the 2025 Australian Open.
The Spanish champion has a great chance to overtakeSaschaZverev, who is stopped due to pneumonia and decided not to play Beijing tournament. After his first match in Beijing, Carlitos commented on his performance: "I'm really happy with the level that I played today. It wasn't an easy match. Difficult to get the rhythm from the baseline. I think I did a really good match. Really, really happy to get through to the next round."
The former world number 1 had a small disagreement with the chair umpire: "For me, saving three break points and be able to close the first set, it was really important for me. Obviously, I was little bit mad about the time rule because I feel like I have no time. I have to run between points. I have no time to have a break, to rest or to breathe. I mean, if I finish the point at the net, which was the case, I have no time to go to the towel and do my routine. I was a little bit mad about it.
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A new energy
After the ATP 500 in Beijing, Alcaraz will participate in the Masters 1000 in Shanghai where he will have the chance to earn valuable points. The 21-year-old from Murcia will be one of the stars of next months 'Six Kings Slam', which will be played in Saudi Arabia for the first time.
Recently, the 4-time Grand Slam champion expressed his point of view on the ATP calendar: Sometimes I didnt feel motivated at all. It is a difficult moment. As I said many times, you know, the calendar is so tight, a lot of tournaments, no days off or not as many days off as I want. Probably during the next few years gonna be even more tournaments, more mandatory tournaments. So, I mean, probably they are going to kill us in some way.
My energy level right now, it is good. I mean, I have motivations to come here to play a good tennis. Im going to try to win the tournament, as I try to do to every tournament that I go. I hear about in Jannik Sinners press conference here, he talk about it a little bit. He didnt complain as much as he did, he didnt complain big about the calendar. It depends as well about the players. Im talking about that. Probably a few players, a lot of players are not going in my side; a lot of them going to be in my side complaining about the calendar, that it is so tight. It depends about the feelings of every player.
