Different Conditions Only Trouble For Defending Champion Alcaraz in Miami
ATPSaturday, 25 March 2023 at 08:30
Updated at Wednesday, 26 March 2025 at 20:48
Carlos Alcaraz started really well at the Miami Open this year, convincingly winning his first match, but he admitted that he had to adjust to the conditions.
Alcaraz has enjoyed a great start to the season, even though he was forced to miss the opening Grand Slam because of an injury. After that, he won a title in Buenos Aires, reached the final in Rio de Janeiro, and also won the Indian Wells Open.
Trying to complete the popular Sunshine Double, the young Spaniard started by beating Facundo Bagnis in his first match at the Miami Open. It was a convincing win, as Alcaraz won 6-0, 6-2, in only an hour and five minutes.
Although the result might not suggest it, it was still a challenging match for Alcaraz. He knew that the conditions in Miami would be different compared to those in Indian Wells, and he had to adjust to it during the match.
"I knew that I needed to be focused for my first match. To start a new tournament is never easy, [and in] different conditions. I have to be ready to get used to these new conditions, but I was really focused on the match from the beginning, and I’m happy with the way that I played. I try to improve every day."
One of the reasons why it's difficult to complete the Sunshine Double is because of the little time between the two events and how different the conditions are at these two ATP Masters 1000 tournaments.
While the courts in Indian Wells are slow and bouncy, those in Miami are much faster. After reaching the final in Indian Wells and winning the title, Alcaraz also had much less time to prepare than his opponents, which also made the adjustment challenging for him.
"The court is faster, there is more humidity. Let’s say it’s a little bit tougher too, to get used to the conditions in a short period of days. For me, it’s a totally different tournament."
Still, Alcaraz won the match, and he will now focus on his second match at the tournament. That will come against Dusan Lajovic, who bested the 30th-seeded Maxime Cressy.
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