Carlos Alcaraz on Iga Swiatek: "I want to be like her"
Carlos Alcaraz will play his first match in a few days after an injury break of several weeks. In the run-up to the Mubadala World Tennis Championships, the Spaniard has spoken about the burden of the number one position.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit:
Dec 11, 2022, 02:19 pm
In the end, Carlos Alcaraz got the end he more than deserved. Although not actively at the start due to injury, the 19-year-old shooting star was honored at the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin for at least one very special achievement in the 2022 season: because in addition to the Grand Slam title debut at the US Open, it was a success the teenager also to hibernate as number one on the ATP charts. Which was of course honored by the ATP with a corresponding trophy.
Now the 19-year-old is already working hard on his comeback on the ATP tour. Before heading to the Australian Open in January, Alcaraz will be playing at the Mubadala World Tennis Championships in Dubai. And had time in the run-up to the exhibition event to answer questions from the local press. According to Alcaraz, he has not really had the opportunity to achieve 100% of the US Open title. "Of course it was a great feeling for me. I can only say that nothing has changed," said the Spaniard.
Alcaraz as the great hunted
But his status on the ATP tour has certainly changed - from the hunter to the great hunted: "Everyone wants to beat the number one in the world. I felt that after the US Open everyone had their sights on me and everyone on the pitch wanted to see. I have to prepare for that," said the youngster. Not an easy task, as Alcaraz' coach emphasizes: "After the US Open, it was difficult for him to get used to his new role on the tour," said Juan Carlos Ferrero. "It's not easy at first and at 19 he's not very mature enough to control everything that happens to him."
In this respect, the Spaniard could find inspiration in his counterpart on the WTA tour, the world number one Iga Swiatek. In any case, Alcaraz has nothing but respect for them: "I want to be like them, not lose the number one position. But I think that's almost impossible. I'll lose them, but it's about winning them back and for as long as possible to stay in first place," said the 19-year-old. Who was particularly impressed by the Polish woman's winning streak in the middle of the season.
Like Swiatek, Alcaraz also works with a sports psychologist. This is "an important facet of our work," emphasized Juan Carlos Ferrero. "He's been working with her for about two years. Not every week, but whenever he feels he needs to talk to her about something that might not be right or that might be causing him more trouble in a match, he speaks up with her and try to solve the problem a little." And of course the US Open is also a central topic here. This has to be processed - and thus to keep the number one position in your hands for as long as possible.