The Spanish Federer conquers New York
The 18-year-old Carlos Alcaraz crashes world number 3 Stefanos Tsitsipas and confirms with his big appearance what insiders already knew: He is the future of men’s tennis.
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–It’s done: Carlos Alcaraz celebrates his biggest win to date.
Foto: Frank Franklin II (AP Photo)
The precocious Carlos Alcaraz has often been compared to Rafael Nadal, who won his first Grand Slam tournament in Paris in 2005 at the tender age of 19. The intensity that the teen is from Murcia im brings south-east Spain to the court, reminds the Mallorcan too. But if he orientates himself on a player, it is not Nadal, Alcaraz said at the US Openem Coup gegen Stefanos Tsitipas, of course, but Roger Federer.
«I’m not copying another player’s style», led Alcaraz the end. «I have my own. But if I had to name a player whose game is similar, it would be Federer. I also try to play aggressively all the time. “
“I’ve never seen anyone hit the ball so hard.”
In fact, the 18-year-old hits the balls with an impressive force. In between he sprinkled against TsitsBut ipas also keeps throwing stop balls to lure the Greeks out of their comfort zone. What documented his feeling for the ball and his versatility. Most of the time he won the point.
“I have never seen anyone hit the ball so hardhits »said Tsitsipas approvingly. “It took my time to get used to it.” The Paris finalist was not to be envied at Arthur Ashe Stadium, the audience sided with Alcaraz from the start. And he drew from the electrifying atmosphere im Finish nEnergy again after losing the fourth set 0: 6.
Who followed the game, how courageously the Spanier played in the tie-break of the fifth round, who knows that he has experienced the future of men’s tennis here. Alcaraz is even nand Nnine months younger than the Swiss talent Dominic Stricker. Thanks to the US Open, he is already in the top 50, tendency steep anincreasing. Against Laaksonen-defeated Peter Gojowczyk (ATP 141) he is clearly to be favored in the round of 16.
No king of sand
Alcaraz is coached by former number 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero and speaks a little better English than Nadal at that age. In addition to the parallels to Nadal and Federer, there are but There are also differences: unlike Nadal, his preferred surface is not sand, but hard court. And he hits the backhand zwar zconsecrated, but is right-handed.
In the cloakroom, Canadian Leylah Fernandez watched Alcaraz’s coup on TV and thought: If he can do it, I can do it too! So, at the age of 18, she stepped into Arthur Ashe Stadium and beat defending champion Naomi Osaka in three sets. The American had an experience that she hadn’t had to make for a long time: Die most viewers supported her opponent and not her.
–Inspired by Alcaraz: Leylah Fernandez, who is also 18, toppled defending champion Naomi Osaka.
Photo: Peter Foley (EPA)
Osaka took that to heart and broke later in tears at the press conference, as he did recently in Cincinnati. «I’m angela at one pointngt where I have to find out what I want“, she said. «Recently I have not felt more happy when i win. I feel only some relief. And when I lose I feel finer sad. I don’t think that’s normal. “
She does not know when she will play her next tennis match. You will now take a breakshe said tearfully and held out both thumbs in the air. The inappropriate gesture was an expression of her despair. Established find it difficult, ihe teens attack. Tennis is suddenly in a state of flux.
Belinda Bencic’s long way to Tokyo – our exclusive Olympic documentary
We followed the best Swiss tennis player closely with the camera for two years before the Olympic Games in 2021. Read Bencic’s story here.
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