Alcaraz and the best conclusion of what was lived in the Magic Box – Spain’s News

A year ago Carlos Alcaraz He left Madrid with his first title in the Caja Mágica. He had liquidated and by this order to Nadal, Djokovic and Zverev. His tennis amazed at times. This year the poster of the last three tasks has not been so shiny (Khachanov, Coric and Struff) and his game either, but the end has been the same. And there, in the way he has won, is where Carlitos and his entourage draw the best conclusions from what happened in the past two weeks at the Caja Mágica in the capital.

«I am one of the players who, when he plays badly, is capable of taking games forward. 80 percent of the games that are played throughout the year are not played at the level you want and you don’t feel as good as when you play spectacular. The victories in those matches count twice because you are able to overcome problems and not feel completely well on the court. I play at a high level on days when I’m not entirely comfortable. That characterizes me and makes me consistently get good results, ”Alcaraz analyzed after defeating Struff in a packed Caja Mágica press room.

Juan Carlos Ferrero, his coach and champion 20 years ago in Madrid, pointed in the same vein. «We all go as one in the team and what we do is try to help him at the times when he needs it most. In the final he could not display all his game and be loose like other days. He had the obligation to win by ranking and he has not been fluid. But players who are very, very, very good don’t need their best tennis to get games aheadand. It is about knowing how to manage suffering, “said Ferrero at Cope. And that “very, very, very good” refers to rackets like those of Federer, Djokovic or Nadal. If to his level in important moments and the ability to do things that others do not do, he adds the resolution of matches without being at his maximum, the cocktail is perfect.

Solving matches without the need for an endless collection of great blows is the new version that Alcaraz has shown so far this season. And that aspect is especially valued by his team thinking about what is coming in Paris from May 22 and with five-set matches. But before reaching the Bois de Bologna there is the Rome Masters 1,000. Alcaraz commented throughout last week that the “plan” was to go to the Foro Italico, but he did not confirm it until after the final against Struff.

Carlitos has never played in the Italian capital and this time he was little less than compelled to come. With the simple presence of him, it is guaranteed to reach Roland Garros as number one in the world. Everyone will be in Rome except Rafa. The idea is to have a few days off with his family to appear in the Eternal City on Thursday and debut in the tournament over the weekend. His work group has preferred to give him a small truce, even if that means arriving a little more in a hurry to an event in which he will debut in the second round as he did in Madrid.

The one from Rome is not the only number one that Alcaraz can boast of shortly. The Murcian is already the best player of the season. Lead the Racethe annual classification, with a balance of 29 wins and two losses that came in the final in Rio against Norrie, conditioned by physical problems, and in the semifinal in Miami against Sinner. Alcaraz has 3,410 points and is ahead of Medvedev (3,300), Djokovic (2,565), Tsitsipas (2,230) and Sinner (2,185). All of them will compete in Rome. Carlos’ goal goes beyond certifying his number one status on Monday, May 22. He tries to continue filming to reach the assault on Paris in the best possible conditions. “I’m on the favorites list for Roland Garros,” he said after the semifinal in Madrid. Well that.