TENNIS
Del Potro: “He got cramped after two sets with Djokovic, at 20 I won the US Open against Federer”
The Argentinian player talked about Carlos Alcaraz’s cramps against Novak Djokovic in the French Open semifinals, and he didn’t bite his tongue.
Carlos Alcaraz is ready to start a new challenge this year, as the Spanish star will start the grass season competing at the Queen’s tournament next week.
The Murcia native seems recovered, physically and mentally, from his tough loss to Novak Djokovic in the French Open semifinals after suffering some cramps at the beginning of the third set that didn’t allow him to play anywhere close to his best tennis.
Alcaraz, who has won 10 titles in the ATP Tour so far, including the 2022 US Open, wants to come back stronger, despite having to adapt to a very different surface.
Carlitos, who could take back again the world No. 1 spot from Djokovic at Queen’s, will also feature in the Tennis Classic at Hurlingham, an exhibition tournament where top players like Holger Rune, Frances Tiafoe and Casper Ruud.
Del Potro compares himself to Alcaraz
After suffering the cramps that left Alcaraz with no chances against Djokovic at Roland Garros, many tennis players and pundits shared their thoughts.
Argentinian player Juan Martin Del Potro is one of them. Very few people know better than him what it means to deal with multiple mishaps during his career. Del Potro, who underwent eight surgeries between 2010 and 2021, last competed at the Argentina Open in February 2022.
The Argentine hasn’t been lucky with injuries during his career and he talked about recent injuries, admitting to feeling angry about it during an interview with the Argentine publication Pagina12:
“I live with two sensations. I have anger, I feel annoyed, and I wonder why. And then it happens the other way around and I think: ‘Why not me?’. I am ordinary: there are many athletes who suffer.”
Talking about Alcaraz’s issues at the French Open, Del Potro sent him a ‘warning’ message.
“Alcaraz got cramped after playing two sets with Djokovic and he is 20 years old; At the age of 20, I won the US Open final against Federer”, he said.
Delpo, Argentina’s biggest tennis icon in recent times, also said that his body has been his toughest opponent, adding that he never feared any of the best players on the tour.
“I never had a problem beating the best: my problem was healing my wrist. If it hurts to hit the backhand, I play with the slice, I don’t use my hand. My toughest opponent was my body. I wasn’t afraid to play against the best”.
Alcaraz, who will make his debut in Queen’s against a qualifier, could eventually face Alejandro Davidovich, Francisco Cerúndolo, and Tiafoe in the tournament.