Alcaraz Admits To Struggles With Shot Selection Thanks To Crazy Variety

Sunday, 03 September 2023 at 21:50

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byNurein Ahmed

Carlos Alcaraz has a toolbox of shots but sometimes it can be difficult on which one to choose, something he struggles with to this day.

The 20-year-old Spaniard has been a sensation on the main tour. On his ATP debut back in 2020, 16-year-old Alcaraz gave tennis fans a glimpse of his talent at the Rio Open. At first glance, he embodies the spirit of high-intensity tennis that has defined his fellow Spaniard Rafael Nadal's legacy at the top level.

But a deep dive into watching him at full flight you can't help but conclude he's got the full package. You always temper such amplified conclusions with caution, however, Alcaraz is far from a finished article, and he's got so much upside, that he'll naturally improve.

Alcaraz's all-round game has drawn seismic comparisons to all the Big 3. Apart from his exceptional battling qualities, he's got wonderful reach off either flank, but what has probably been conspicuous in his game is the drop shot, a signature shot in his arsenal, and which he's got a remarkable success rate from using it.

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Speaking after his four-set win over Dan Evans at this year's US Open Alcaraz spoke of possessing such a vast array of shots at his disposal. But he explains the difficulty of having such strengths in abundance as it can be difficult to know which one to choose.

"I always have that. When I was young, I'm playing, you know, under-12, under-14 tournaments. In my mind come a lot of different things before hitting the shot. Probably the dropshot, big forehand, go to the net, you know, multiple things, you know, and sometimes it was tough to find the right one."

"For me, you know, when I was younger, it was difficult sometimes. But right now I think most of the time I find the right one, but sometimes I struggle, you know, to hit good shots because of that."