ATP Masters Rome: It's almost like "Carlitos Mania"
Carlos Alcaraz will only play his first match at the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Rome on Saturday. The excitement at the Spaniard's first training session was already great yesterday, Thursday.
by Jens Huiber
last edit:
May 12, 2023, 07:01 am
Of course, Carlos Alcaraz doesn't have to fear anything or anyone on the ATP tour. He probably wouldn't have chosen Albert Ramos-Vinolas as his first opponent in Rome. Alcaraz had massive problems against his compatriot in Roland Garros last year, even had to fend off a match point (and did so, who can remember, in a sensational way).
But let's see: Ramos-Vinolas has had problems with his form in recent months, Carlos Alcaraz comes to the Foro Italico from Madrid as the newly crowned champion.
For the first time, by the way, which might explain the reception he received from the fans there. Even during a training session, the grandstands were full, the 20-year-old Spaniard seemed to be having a lot of fun, the fans went out. The fact that his practice session was streamed live shows that interest in "Carlitos" seems to be getting out of hand a bit.
Only two defeats for Alcaraz 2023
On the other hand: The ATP understands it much better than the WTA to establish new faces among the fans. It started at the latest with the first #NextGen around Alexander Zverev and Stefanos Tsitsipas, who also did fantastic things as "adults" - even if the big success with a major hasn't materialized so far.
Carlos Alcaraz can make a catch at this point. And seems to be able to live up to the associated expectations again in 2023 after his injury break. So far, there have only been defeats in the final in Rio de Janeiro against Cameron Norrie and in the semifinals in Miami against Jannik Sinner. On the other hand there are four championships in Buenos Aires, Indian Wells, Barcelona and Madrid.
skyromat2023
Djokovic as the biggest competitor?
Will the next coup follow in Rome? The competition is greater than last time in Madrid, the presence of Novak Djokovic alone ensures that. But when Alcaraz first competed in Rome, one could at least see that it was worth inflating the two consecutive sand 1000s to twelve days each. Because Carlos Alcaraz still has one thing ahead of his peers: he knows when to take a break. Just like last year in Rome, when the action started right after the final in Madrid.
Here the single tableau in Rome
rommap