Reports suggest Carlos Alcaraz believes he can challenge for the title at next year's Australian Open without playing any tournaments beforehand.
Some analysts and former players have been worried about Alcaraz's packed schedule this year, fearing he could get burnt out and not produce the blistering tennis fans love to watch.
The 21-year-old has endured several injury issues already during his young career, raising further concerns about him playing too many matches and tournaments throughout the season.
Alcaraz could take inspiration from Roger Federer, who was known for his carefully planned schedule throughout his career. He is with the Swiss maestro at the current Laver Cup and still holds onto memories of meeting him for the first time.
The Spaniard will be busy between now and the rest of the season. After competing in the Laver Cup from Friday to Sunday, he heads straight to the China Open in Beijing to start his Asian swing.
Alcaraz has raised concerns about the length of the tennis calendar, but his packed schedule until the end of the year is him choosing to play as much as possible, feeling he can handle that workload.
The Australian Open is the only Grand Slam Alcaraz is yet to win. That makes his preparation plans for the year's opening Grand Slam especially crucial for him and interesting for fans.
MARCA reports that Alcaraz already has a plan to arrive in Melbourne in great shape, and it will not involve competing in any of the events held before the Australian Open begins.
Instead, the Spaniard will prioritize the pre-season, feeling consistent work off the match court is the best way to prepare mentally and physically for playing in Melbourne, where the conditions are often brutal.
Alcaraz's pre-season will take place from December 8 to January 8. After that intense training block, he plans to fly to Melbourne directly to prepare for the Australian Open, starting on January 12.
The world No. 3 plans to go on vacation after the Davis Cup Finals to recharge his batteries. Spain's qualification for the finals means his season will be longer than that of some of his rivals at the top of the men's game.
When he returns from vacation in December, Alcaraz will play two exhibition matches in the United States. The first is against Ben Shelton at Madison Square Garden on December 4, and the second is against Frances Tiafoe on December 6.
The 21-year-old's schedule in February will also differ from 2022 and 2023. During that month, Alcaraz competed in South America during the country's clay-court swing, generating much attention for the events in Buenos Aires and Rio.
However, he is confirmed to compete at the indoor hard-court tournament at the Rotterdam Open instead in 2025. The defending champion, Jannik Sinner, will also play in the Netherlands, potentially setting up a heavyweight clash.
Alcaraz's month-long pre-season training bloc shows how hard professional players have to work to prepare for the tennis year, which is why many players have complained about the season being too long.
0 Comments