NEW YORK—It’s not often a player wins two consecutive Grand Slam titles and enters his next one as the No. 3 seed. 

But that’s the situation facing Carlos Alcaraz as he starts his bid for a second US Open title. 

He sits in the same half of the draw as No. 1 seed, Jannik Sinner, with No. 2 Novak Djokovic lurking on the other side.

But Alcaraz is optimistic. After all, the 21-year-old with two Wimbledons and one Roland Garros believes the surface and venue elevate his talents like no other.

“I love playing on hard courts. Playing here in New York suits very well to my game, my personality,” says the 2022 US Open champ. 

“The people here are passionate about tennis, they have a lot of energy that they bring to the matches, to the court, and I love it. So probably here is where I play some of my best tennis.”

If Alcaraz does win again in Flushing Meadows, he will become just the seventh man to capture three Slams in the same calendar season. 

It’s something his idol, Rafael Nadal, did in 2010, also capturing Roland Garros, Wimbledon and the US Open in succession.

With Nadal just about exiting centerstage, Alcaraz now fully carries the Spanish mantle. Like so many from his homeland, he grew up in awe of Rafa.

“I love watching him practice. The intensity that brings to the practice, the way he hits every ball, it is insane,” says Alcaraz, who opens Tuesday’s night session against Australian qualifier Li Tu. “The first picture I took with him I was 11 or 12 years old in the tournament in Madrid. I played him for the first time there in 2021. I was so, so scared. He destroyed me, but it was a good time.”

There haven’t been many lopsided losses since. In fact, Alcaraz returned the favor, beating Nadal in Madrid the following year. It has been that fast for Alcaraz. In the blink of an eye, he has gone from the potential future of men’s tennis to global superstar. Not long ago he was the up-and-comer looking to the top of the game for inspiration; now he is one of the players setting the standard. It’s a role he’s still figuring out.

“Honestly, I don’t know what juniors can learn from me,” says Alcaraz. “Probably the joy that I’m playing with. It seems like I don’t feel the pressure anytime. I play all the points in the same way. Being aggressive, having no fear of going to net. Hitting big shots. I’m going to say that.”

What about drop shots?

“Of course, trying some drop shots as well,” he says with a big grin.

Alcaraz is decidedly low maintenance. He likes what he likes, and finds comfort in the status quo.

Alcaraz was availed to select media at his Midtown hotel on the Friday before the start of the Open. It was arranged by Babolat, the only racquet and string brand he has ever played with. He signed a seven-year contract extension with the French company before last year’s US Open. He endorses the Pure Aero 98 frame and strings it with RPM Team, a popular combination with players of his generation.

“What I like about the racquet, I feel like I have a lot of power, and at the same time I have a lot of control over the ball that I’m hitting,” says Alcaraz. “That’s what I wanted when I started playing with this racquet. Before this one, I could hit with a lot of power, I could hit great shots, but I couldn’t control the ball as much as I wanted. I started to play with this one, and I didn’t miss the power that I like to play with, and at the same time I have control. So probably those players are feeling the same way as me.”

Tour players are always looking for an edge, and gear can be one of the prime areas. They’ll work with their equipment manufacturer to experiment with the weight of the racquet, a different string pattern, or a new string. But Alcaraz is decidedly low maintenance. He likes what he likes, and finds comfort in the status quo.

“I’m not a guy who likes changes,” he says. “When I was 15, I played with the Pure Aero. I just played with that racquet, then I changed to this one and didn’t change anymore. So I don’t like changing and I don’t think about it.”

He’s too busy trying to make history.

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Source: New York Post