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By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Friday, Might 26, 2023
Grand Slam tennis is an academic expertise for Carlos Alcaraz.
Contesting simply the ninth main match of his profession, Alcaraz stands atop the Roland Garros subject as a Grand Slam high seed for the primary time in his profession.
More: Alcaraz, Djokovic in Same Half of Roland Garros Draw
So what is the distinction between at the moment’s world No. 1 and the Alcaraz who reached the Roland Garros quarterfinals final June earlier than bowing to Alexander Zverev 6-4, 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(7) in an incredible three hour, 18-minute combat?
Although he is not hitting the books, Alcaraz says he is extra effectively learn this yr.
“Properly, speaking about tennis, I’d say I am the identical participant than final yr, solely change that Iwould say is that I am extra mature,” Alcaraz advised the media in Paris. “Mentally I am higher. And I can learn what occurred on court docket higher than final yr.
“For me, it is actually, actually vital, and I’d say it is essentially the most totally different than final yr.”
The reigning US Open champion opens Roland Garros in opposition to 159th-ranked Italian qualifier Flavio Cobolli.
Alcaraz says he is nonetheless adjusting to the brand new view as high seed in Paris.
“For me, it is nonetheless loopy to see myself in high 1 seed in a Grand Slam,” Alcaraz mentioned. “However for me, at similar time is nice. Is one thing that I work for to be there. Yeah, I am actually glad to be No. 1 seed right here in Roland Garros.”
Madrid champion Alcaraz carries a 20-2 clay-court document into Paris along with his lone losses coming to Cameron Norrie within the Rio closing and a shock setback to One hundred and thirty fifth-ranked Fabian Marozsan in Rome.
Looking back, that Rome loss could have been a blessing in disguise in that it gave Alcaraz time to gear up for Roland Garros.
“I had like 5 days training within the academy at house that’s actually useful for me to be away from tournaments a little bit bit, have extra depth apply, bodily,” Alcaraz mentioned. “And naturally in tennis that used to do that yr, as a result of I did not have greater than 4 days to apply, simply to play matches and matches, and for me have this time to organize Roland Garros pretty much as good as I did these previous days. It was nice.”
Picture credit score: Getty
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