Former tennis player Alex Corretja believes the Australian Open is a perfect fit for Alcaraz
The Spanish tennis analyst thinks that ‘Carlitos’ will have a great opportunity to shine in the first Grand Slam tournament of the year.
The Australian Open is the main attraction of the new calendar, as it’s the first major of the season and it reunites the very best tennis players in the world.
It’s also one of the most-anticipated events, as tennis fans want to see how their favorite players get back into action for the new season after some weeks off.
Rafa Nadal and Novak Djokovic will undoubtedly be two of the main attractions in Melbourne, but many will have their eyes on Carlos Alcaraz.
The 20-year-old star hasn’t been able to finish 2023 the way he expected, taking back the world No. 1 spot from Djokovic, but he will motivated enough to come back stronger and try to go all the way in the AO.
A more mature Alcaraz is expected in 2024, as he has had to deal with physical and mental issues due to the exigence of the ATP schedules.
The Australian Open, “a perfect fit” for Alcaraz’s game
While Djokovic remains the big favorite to win his 11th Australian Open title, Alcaraz is regarded as the Serb’s toughest opposition alongside the likes of Jannik Sinner, Daniil Medvedev or Holger Rune.
According to Alex Corretja, former two-time French Open finalist, the Murcia native will be ready to face all kinds of situations in Melbourne and will be mentally stronger.
“To me, winning a Grand Slam would make it a very good season. I think that this year, for example, Roland Garros is going to be a very big goal for him”, he said.
“After what happened last year (cramps against Djokovic), I think he will manage it differently. He will have less anxiety and he’ll want to get to Paris to win because he knows that it is a very long Grand Slam”, Corretja stated.
“I said it a long time ago, I think Alcaraz is going to win all the Grand Slam events on all surfaces, even the Masters. I think he is going to be a player who is going to win all the titles practically possible and it is because of the way he plays, his ambition, and his character”, he added.
Corretja also said that the Australian Open’s conditions will benefit Alcaraz’s game:
“I think the Australian Open is a perfect fit for Alcaraz because of the conditions, because of the way the ball bounces, because it can be hot, because of night sessions where there is a kind of atmosphere that’s dramatic”.
“Everything becomes spectacular and he likes that. It’s a little bit like the night session in New York. I think if he arrives well and with some preparation matches it’s going to be perfect”, he concluded.
Alcaraz will be looking to win his third major as a professional and lift the 13th ATP title of his career. After not being able to feature in the Australian Open this year due to injury, he will likely be very motivated to start 2024 in style.