World no. 1 Carlos Alcaraz is back on the court! Carlos is practicing on clay ahead of his return tournament in Buenos Aires in February, having to miss the Australian Open due to a leg injury. A teenager is spending his 19th week as world no. 1 and will match Mats Wilander’s 20 on Monday. However, Carlos could lose the ATP throne to Novak Djokovic or Stefanos Tsitsipas if one of them claims the trophy in Melbourne. Alcaraz lifted his first Major trophy in New York last September, writing history books and becoming the youngest world no. 1. However, the Spaniard could not extend that run for the rest of the season, skipping a couple of tournaments to rest his body and injuring his left abdominal wall in Paris. The young gun withdrew from the ATP Finals and the Davis Cup Finals and has not played since. Carlos had been working hard to get back to 100% ahead of the Australian Open before experiencing a leg injury that sidelined him from Melbourne.
Thus, Alcaraz missed the season’s opening Major and changed his schedule. Carlos will return to action in February, entering the ATP 250 event in Buenos Aires on clay. The Spaniard will embrace a clay-court swing in South America, hoping to defend his last year’s Rio de Janeiro title and 500 ATP points. Alcaraz will be the favorite in Buenos Aires, seeking his first title of the season and a fresh start after a couple of challenging months. Carlos made incredible progress in 2022, starting from outside the top-30 and finishing as the world’s leading player. Alcaraz won the title in Rio de Janeiro and became the youngest ATP 500 champion since the series began in 2009.
Carlos Alcaraz will compete in Buenos Aires in February.
The young gun pushed Rafael Nadal to the limits in the Indian Wells semi-final and lost after over three hours. Carlos went all the way two weeks later in Miami and became the third-youngest Masters 1000 champion after Michael Chang and Rafael Nadal! Alcaraz conquered Barcelona at the end of April for back-to-back ATP 500 titles and a place in the top-10 at 18. The youngster lifted another Masters 1000 trophy in front of the home fans in Madrid in May. He delivered impressive wins over Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev in three days and secured his second notable title. Carlos added more valuable points with the Roland Garros quarter-final, giving his everything but losing to Alexander Zverev. After a short grass campaign, Alcaraz lost back-to-back ATP finals on clay in July and came to the US Open as world no. 4. He saved a match point in the quarter-final thriller against Jannik Sinner and overpowered Frances Tiafoe to advance to his first Major final at 19.
Alcaraz fought for the ATP throne and a Major title against Casper Ruud and beat the Norwegian 6-4, 2-6, 7-6, 6-3. Thus, the Spaniard became the first teenager on the ATP throne and the youngest Major winner since Rafael Nadal in 2005! Carlos lost to Felix Auger-Aliassime in the Basel semi-final and reached the quarter-final in Paris. He injured his left abdominal wall against Holger Rune and retired in the second set’s closing stages. Alcaraz revealed an abdominal muscle injury and withdrew from the ATP Finals and the Davis Cup Finals. Carlos worked hard on his comeback, hoping to compete at the Australian Open. However, he experienced a leg injury that sidelined him from the season’s first Major. Alcaraz is back on the practice court, hoping to make a fresh start in February on clay and find the rhythm ahead of Indian Wells and Miami.
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