1676847442 Carlos Alcaraz another trophy and something else

Carlos Alcaraz, another trophy and something else

Carlos Alcaraz another trophy and something else

Carlos Alcaraz gets flipped on the return, throws a topspin and Cameron Norrie stumbles at the start. The set comes: 6-3 and 7-5, in 1h 32m. The Spaniard spreads his arms in the shape of a cross, smiles and celebrates. After several elusive months, he needs good impetus and celebrates his first title of this 2023, the seventh of his career – the fifth on clay – and the first in the context of Buenos Aires, where his coach Juan Carlos Ferrero or Rafael Nadal himself. El Palmar’s was imposed to restore sensations and start on the right foot and the result is more than satisfactory, beyond metal. Word of the Master: “I didn’t expect to play at this level so quickly.”

In just five days, Alcaraz I put on quite a show of force. Test more than passed. Absent since November 4 and affected by two injuries to his stomach and right leg, the Murcian has not only reassembled with guarantees and got on the running train, but is also building muscle from now on. He completes this passage through Buenos Aires without a scratch or hesitation, and in his first appearance on the course he managed to exit the first winning frame. He does not save, he does not dose. It goes with everything. A single set abandoned, four convincing interventions and serious signs his tennis hasn’t lost a touch of spice. He was in a hurry to return, and the acceleration immediately puts him back in the front row of the showcase.

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And that the layout wasn’t easy. Djere (57th), Lajovic (90th), Zapata (74th) and Norrie (12th) are not exactly a rose path, the four of them are guerrillas and the latter is increasingly consolidating in the noble zone. The Brit has more than enough arguments to make anyone uncomfortable, tools to easily block the opponent’s play. He’s no virtuoso, but he knows what he’s doing. He doesn’t faint, he doesn’t turn his face, and he doesn’t bow no matter how much it rains. In the final, Alcaraz made a big step and still couldn’t be put off. It happens that the rhythm imposed by the Murcian breaks engines, and although he falls into a swamp from time to time, he rarely escapes the mud.

When the wind is favourable, Alcaraz finds the ideal terrain to demonstrate its aggressiveness. In addition, Spanish has the advantage of stretching on certain days. Except for the double setback in the summer in Hamburg and Umag last summer, he counted his other seven finals as victories. The latter went in one direction, everything seemed controlled and well on course, until the tension pinched him, on serve to heartbeat he lost focus a bit – double faults, break and from 5-2 to 5-5 in the second part – and touched Norrie themselves in the closing stages. A shock, nothing more. After overcoming this knot, he straightened up and responded decisively by drawing a final filigree.

In the first rehearsal of the year, the check-up is unbeatable: tennis, physique and head intact. A return to order and another Spanish notch on the Buenos Aires clay (ATP 250). The Murcian competed looking for filming and takes something else. A reinsertion with capital letters. The winners are joined by Carlos Moyá (2003 and 2006), Tommy Robredo (2009), Juan Carlos Ferrero (2010), Nicolás Almagro (2011) and David Ferrer (2012, 2013 and 2014). “This is my first win since the US Open [11 de septiembre], after four months of unemployment, and I’m very happy with the level I’ve had since day one. I’m a top performer, it’s in my blood and it has paid off,” he said in the final parliamentary speech. Don’t lose the Alcaraz instinct.

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