2022 marked the definitive explosion of Carlos Alcaraz. The 19-year-old Spaniard has won the US Open, as well as two Masters 1000s (Miami and Madrid) and two ATP 500s (Rio and Barcelona). Triumphing in New York in the summer, Murciano became the youngest world No. 1 in men’s tennis history.
“I never thought I would reach the top when I was 19 years old, I am in seventh heaven. I’ll have to work hard to confirm this position”, said ‘Carlitos’ after the US Open. During the season, the Iberian also gave himself the whim of beating Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic on clay in Madrid.
There are those who believe that Alcaraz’s first place is not entirely deserved, given Djokovic’s repeated absences related to the issue of vaccines. The Serbian had to miss the Australian Open and the US Open, as well as all the American Masters 1000 (Indian Wells, Miami, Montreal and Cincinnati).
In a long interview granted to ‘Punto de Break’, Juan Carlos Ferrero analyzed in detail the year of his protégé.
Ferrero where Carlos Alcaraz
In a long interview granted to our colleagues at Puntodebreak, Juan Carlos Ferrero reviews his career but also the controversy linked to his colt Carlos Alcaraz’s first place in the world.
If you understand that we can question this feat achieved in particular circumstances, consider that it is widely deserved. “It is normal that some people think that Carlos does not deserve this place because it is true that Novak Djokovic did not play two Grand Slams and could have won more, or not, in fact we will never know.
But at the end of the day, I think this place deserves it, especially if you win almost every game you play during the year. I think it’s been a very successful year. You have to respect all opinions, but I think he deserves it.»
Daniil Medvedev’s youth coach and former ATP player Jean-Rene Lisnard is of the opinion that Novak Djokovic’s participation in the Australian Open is irrelevant in deciding his greatness. «Djokovic is Djokovic, and he will continue to be regardless of whether or not he participates in the Australian Open.
He is Superovich!” he said. “If he doesn’t play in this or that tournament, what will become of him? Only the tournament will suffer. He fights for his rights, and I think he’s right. Before, I really didn’t like him, but the further this whole situation progressed, the more I sympathized with him.
He is the only one in this world of tennis who can call things by their name and do what he wants,» he said. «This inspires great respect.»
