World No.1 Carlos Alcaraz, who might be combating for his first French Open title, doesn’t think about himself favorite to win, saying his predominant precedence is to benefit from the event past defending his rating.
Alcaraz heads right into a grand slam as the highest seed for the primary time with the absence of 14-times champion and titleholder Rafael Nadal plus Novak Djokovic’s health struggles providing him the prospect to win a second main and cement his No.1 standing.
But having been positioned in the identical half of the draw as 22-time main winner Djokovic on Thursday, the 20-year-old Spaniard mentioned he was eager to handle his personal expectations.
“I’m going to try to do my best and that’s all I’m thinking about,” Alcaraz mentioned at a promotional occasion the place he performed with kids forward of the event.
“I’m not the favourite, but of course I can say I’m one of them. I don’t have a lot of pressure.
“I come right here to take pleasure in, to indicate my finest tennis. And after all I’ll attempt to do outcome, nevertheless it’s not the one factor I take into consideration.”
Alcaraz missed the Australian Open after being sidelined for three months due to abdominal and hamstring injuries but he has been making up for lost time, winning in Buenos Aires on his return and taking two more claycourt titles in Barcelona and Madrid.
After becoming the youngest world No.1 last September following his US Open triumph, Alcaraz leapfrogged Djokovic into top spot once again despite being stunned in the Rome third round by Hungarian qualifier Fabian Marozsan earlier this month.
Barring that blip, the Indian Wells champion has been the player to beat on the circuit, with his athleticism and warrior spirit reminiscent of countryman Nadal, who will skip Roland Garros this year due to injury.
Unlike Alcaraz, Djokovic has the experience of winning the title on the red dirt of Paris having triumphed in 2016 and 2021, but the Serb has not enjoyed a perfect build-up to the tournament starting on Sunday.
The 36-year-old pulled out of Madrid due to an elbow problem and was hampered by an unspecified physical issue in Rome before losing in the quarter-finals, slipping to third in the rankings following Daniil Medvedev’s triumph.
Djokovic said the next generation’s growing impact on the tour was like a breath of fresh air and is well aware of the threat posed by Alcaraz.
“He’s been enjoying some spectacular tennis, a fantastic degree,” Djokovic mentioned in Rome.
“He’s the participant to beat on this floor, little doubt.”
In Nadal’s absence, the focus is on Alcaraz and Djokovic but Scandinavian stars Holger Rune and last year’s runner-up Casper Ruud also sense a big opportunity.
“I do not know if it is that up for grabs (the title). I do not know who may beat Carlos,” said coach Toni Nadal, who also talked about his nephew’s absence.
“There aren’t many who can beat Carlos or Djokovic. They are usually not simple to beat. I have no idea if Rune or Medvedev are going to do nicely.”
Alcaraz may face some probably difficult duels on his solution to a potential semi-final towards Djokovic, with 2021 runner-up Stefanos Tsitsipas, Lorenzo Musetti and Felix Auger-Aliassime within the prime quarter of the draw.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
