TENNIS

Carlos Alcaraz’s mystery message

Carlos Alcaraz won his ninth straight match against Tommy Paul at the Miami Open, but the message he wrote on the camera after left viewers baffled.

Carlos Alcaraz beat Tommy Paul 6-4, 6-4 in the last 16 of the Miami Open to claim his ninth straight win. After hitting 22 winners, he will now head to the quarterfinals to play against Taylor Fritz. The 19-year-old Spaniard is hoping to keep his spot at the very top of the world rankings.

Alcaraz’s message to the camera

When Alcaraz finished the match with Paul, he went up to the camera and wrote these words with a marker: “33? Soon” with an arrow pointing away. The mystery message left viewers baffled, but eventually, with the help of Twitter and Instagram, it started to become clear.

Alcaraz is a big fan of Formula 1 driver Fernando Alonso, who he said inspired him ahead of the Indian Wells Masters. Alonso has won 32 Grand Prix’s in his career and will compete in the F1 Australian Grand Prix at the Albert Park Circuit in early April, which could mean his 33rd win is indeed coming soon. Alcaraz posted the message on Twitter and tagged Alonso.

Alonso himself saw the message and got the hint, replying on Twitter, “Lock this man up!” with laughing emojis, followed by, “you are a phenomenon! Let’s go!!!”

Alcaraz replied saying, “you have me doing somersaults”. Without social media, we may never have deciphered this message. Now we know, Alcaraz has a clear inspiration and is waiting on that inspiration’s next big move.