Carlos Alcaraz on Sunday celebrated “being almost at the door” of becoming the top ranked tennis player in the world again after defending his Madrid Open title.
The Spaniard earned his 10th career title with a hard-fought 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 win over Jan-Lennard Struff and can reclaim the world No. 1 ranking from Novak Djokovic simply by playing a single match at the Italian Open, before the French Open.
Currently ranked second, Alcaraz spent 20 weeks in the top spot after his US Open triumph in September last year, becoming the youngest player to reach world No. 1.
Photo: EPA-EFE
Djokovic’s Australian Open triumph saw him depose Alcaraz, but the 20-year-old confirmed he would play next week in Rome.
“These are very nice achievements, winning my fourth Masters 1000, defending my title here and being almost at the door of recovering the No. 1 spot,” Alcaraz told a news conference.
“These are very big things I’m doing, and I’m very proud of the work and of these accomplishments. I am ambitious and we’ll try and go for Rome,” he said.
Alcaraz continued his Roland Garros buildup by adding the Madrid trophy to victories in Barcelona, Buenos Aires and Indian Wells this year, although he was below his best against lucky loser Struff, the world No. 65.
The triumph and his impending return to the top of the rankings reiterated his bright future at the game’s summit.
Alcaraz said his only worry for his future in tennis is injury, rather than any mental aspects.
“You have to try to take care of yourself as much as possible,” Alcaraz said.
“The mental issue, of getting tired of winning, traveling or playing tennis, doesn’t worry me because I know it’s not going to happen,” he said. “What may worry me in the future is the issue of injuries, which is what we are going to try to take care of together with my team.”
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