Carlos Alcaraz is the first non-big four player to be seeded number one at Wimbledon since 2003 securing it with a superb Cinch Championship run.
Carlos Alcaraz needed a very specific result at the Cinch Championship if he wanted to return to the number one rank in the world. Returning to number one meant that he would be the number one seed at Wimbledon too and both of those came true on Sunday.
He made a surprise run in Queen's beating some good players including De Minaur in the final to win his maiden grass trophy. Those points allowed him to return to number one in the world ahead of Djokovic and he'll be the top seed at Wimbledon.
It means a lot to me. Being able to win this amazing tournament in my first time that I played here for me is fantastic. To know that I’m [capable of] a good level on grass, obviously [to be] champion of every tournament feels special.
The win meant a lot to Alcaraz and it ensured that he is the first non-big four player to be the number one seed at Wimbledon. In the past 20 years, the number one seed was either one of Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, or Andy Murray.
Obviously, as time moves on, the situation changes and somebody was ultimately going to become the first one but it's surprising that one of the youngest in the Top 10 on the ATP Tour was able to get it done before the others.
Of course, recovering the No. 1 before Wimbledon, it gives you extra motivation, it gives you extra confidence coming into Wimbledon. But it doesn’t change too much if I play Wimbledon as the No. 2 or the No. 1.
As the Spaniard said, nothing changes as the Serbian is still the biggest favourite with Alcaraz and the rest of the field facing a very tough prospect of ousting him as the dominant force at SW19.
0 Comments