Carlos Alcaraz does not feel weight of 2022 US Open crown ahead of this year’s tournament - ‘I feel the same’
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Published 28/08/2023 at 11:23 GMT
Just under a year ago, a teenage Carlos Alcaraz won his first Grand Slam when he beat Casper Ruud in the US Open final. Fast forward almost 12 months, he’s added a Wimbledon title to his collection and is preparing to defend his US Open crown as he seeks back-to-back titles. The Spaniard says he does not feel the pressure of being defending champion, but “feels the same” as any other tournament.
NEW YORK, USA, September 11: Carlos Alcaraz of Spain with the winner's trophy after his victory against Casper Ruud of Norway in the Men's Singles Final match on Arthur Ashe Stadium during the US Open Tennis Championship 2022 at the USTA National Tennis C
Image credit: Eurosport
Carlos Alcaraz does not feel the pressure of being the defending US Open champion, but “feels the same” as he does going into any other tournament.
The 20-year-old, who won Wimbledon for the first time in July, has the chance to scoop back-to-back Grand Slam titles in New York at the US Open.
But despite winning it last year - his first Grand Slam victory - doesn’t feel any different going into this year’s tournament and he is solely focussing on being as prepared as he can be.
“Honestly, it doesn’t feel different,” Alcaraz told Eurosport. “I feel the same as coming into a normal tournament.
“I’m just focussing on practising, and practising well, and being as ready as I can before the tournament starts.
“I try not to think about being the defending champion and that I won last year. I just focus on this year and the first round.”
Alcaraz’s coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero, is the man helping the Spanish sensation prepare to fight for his third Grand Slam title in 12 months.
But it’s not just on the court Alcaraz feels he benefits from Ferrero.
“He’s a really important person for me, not just professionally but personally as well,” he said. “He taught me a lot of things about dealing with tough moments on court, but to be a better person as well.
“Being a good person is more important than being a good athlete. For me that’s really important and Juan helped me a lot on that.
“I always said that Juan is my second father! It’s great to have him in my life.”
Alcaraz gets his US Open title defence underway on day two of the tournament - Tuesday, August 29 against German Dominik Koepfer at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
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