Carlos Alcaraz has no limits. After a dreamy end to 2021 and a positive start to 2022 at the Australian Open, the 18-year-old tennis player from Murcia once again left the world of tennis speechless and won his second ATP title, the first in the 500 category, in Rio deJaneiro . Alcaraz, in a week with problems marked by rain, acted like a champion in the final match against Diego Schwartzman , a specialist on the ground who ended up unhinged by the overwhelming dominance of the tennis player of the future.
After a debut in Australia in which his third-round loss to Berrettini left more light than shadow, Carlos returned to competition in Rio de Janeiro , weeks later and on another surface, before switching back to hard court in Acapulco. . At his age and with his level of talent and confidence, nothing matters and nothing can stop the tennis player from El Palmar, who got down to work with difficulties against Munar, to perfect himself against Delbonis, Berrettini and Fognini in double function before reach the final with Schwartzman .
Finalist in Buenos Aires, the small Argentine tennis player seemed to have the upper hand due to filming and experience, and in fact began dominating the match with the first break. In the type of match that Diego proposes, with two-way markers due to his strength to return and weakness, marked by height, on serve, Alcaraz would see his mental strength put to the test. The exam, like so many others lately, ended with an A.
Alcaraz was not nervous about starting off losing and with his forehand in command, as the canons of clay dictate, he looked for the break, which he would find twice before scoring a set in which, in addition to sobriety and leadership, He left points for the memory as he usually does every day.
The tennis player of the future… and of the present
In absolute trance, Carlos chained outstanding dropshots, lobs and volleys along with his usual ground-breaking winners with his forehand and backhand. Schwartzman could not do more than encourage himself in search of a crack in his rival’s tennis, but what he found was a new double break after starting the second set with alternation to the rest.
Already at the end of the game, Alcaraz found himself with the option, the temptation to doubt but drawing on the vivacity and self-confidence of the teenager, he once again overcame the pressure and was able to raise his arms with a resounding 6-4, 6-2 final that returns to raise him to the top of the world tennis level. He’s only 18 years old and he’s already top 20. Hold on, curves are coming.
