Carlos Alcaraz seeks breakthrough in Rio: "There's a lot to improve"



by LORENZO CIOTTI

Carlos Alcaraz seeks breakthrough in Rio: "There's a lot to improve"
© Buda Mendes / Staff Getty Images Sport

Even at the Buenos Aires Open, Carlos Alcaraz did not show the solid and spectacular tennis admired until Wimbledon 2023. Considering the two hard-fought victories against Camilo Ugo Carabelli and Andrea Vavassori to the defeat against Nicolas Jarry, the Spaniard never gave the impression of being at 100%.

That 100% that he will try to find again to challenge his direct rival Jannik Sinner. "I'm very happy with the way he wins tournaments. He deserves it, he works hard for it. I try to see things in a positive way. I have to dedicate myself 100% every day if I want to compete with him, because he is at his best level," said Alcaraz in a press conference on the eve of the ATP tournament in Rio de Janeiro.

"There is a lot to improve compared to Buenos Aires. I hit the ball very well, I think I'm in good shape, but I have to learn to play better in some situations," he explained. Alcaraz will make his debut at the ATP 500 tournament in Rio de Janeiro this evening and will face home tennis player Thiago Monteiro.

Carlos Alcaraz© Buda Mendes / Staff Getty Images Sport

Carlos Alcaraz in crisis?

After winning the Wimbledon tournament for the first time, Alcaraz was no longer able to consistently express his best level and is probably experiencing the most delicate phase of his young career.

The Spaniard got everything straight away. He became the youngest number 1 in the history of tennis, won two Grand Slam tournaments, US Open and Wimbledon and four ATP Masters 1000s. These successes have perhaps postponed that phase that all tennis players of the new generation find themselves facing when they land on the ATP Tour.

As if Alcaraz had skipped a necessary step that he had to irreparably deal with.

Carlos Alcaraz