Carlos Alcaraz’s first match in a Grand Slam tournament was at the 2021 Australian Open. He defeated Dutchman Botic van de Zandchulp, who was Rafael Nadal’s last executioner. He was 17 years old, but he already made it clear that he was born to play on the big stage. Alcaraz began his journey in the 16th major of his career and did not fail to reach the second round. He has never missed out.
His first victim at the Margaret Court Arena at Melbourne Park was Alexander Shevchenko, 6-1, 7-5, 6-1, in 1 hour and 54 minutes
Shevchenko was a familiar face for the Spaniard. They had met in the last edition of the Mutua Madrid Open. On that occasion, the Kazakh encountered a serve from Alcaraz that has nothing to do with the current one.
Juan Carlos Ferrero’s pupil unveiled a new serve that stands out in three aspects: a different starting position; more help from the legs for weight transfer; he brings the racket closer to his right leg to shorten the movement and eliminates pauses in the movement. The aim of all this is to gain rhythm and fluidity in the delivery of the ball.
Ferrero, a student of biomechanics, is looking for formulas so that his player has more weapons to face opponents of the stature of Jannik Sinner. Four years ago, Juanqui introduced the first major change in his pupil’s serve: “I made a biomechanical change because of the abdominal. As a child he had injured that area quite a few times and I looked for a simple movement so that the back leg would help him to support a little better and that at a biomechanical level the movement was good, simple and direct.”
Preserving the abdominal area remains a goal for the world number three’s team, which has added Samuel Lopez to its bench. “I make a movement with the wrist more relaxed and without stopping when I get the racket up. When you play more relaxed, you avoid more tension. It is clear that you have to change things and you can not stagnate. To be at the highest level you have to adapt to what you are asked,” explained Carlitos in the preview.
Start by subtracting
Alcaraz always chooses to return when he wins the toss “because he feels more comfortable,” say his coaching staff. He repeated the script on his debut at the Australian Open. The organisers relegated him to the second centre because Jannik Sinner asked to play on Monday when he was due to play on Tuesday. Now the Italian will have two days’ rest before facing local player Tristan Schoolkate in the second round.
Shevchenko already enjoyed a ‘break’ ball in the second game. His rival neutralized it with an effective second serve. Carlitos was getting the machinery going. “Come on Charlie,” he repeated. From a possible 0-2 it went to 6-1 for the four-time Grand Slam champion.
Alcaraz hit the ball with speeds that reached 205 kilometers per hour. He went out to play with a bandage on his right thigh, a common sight in many matches over the last two seasons, especially since the 2023 Wimbledon edition, which ended up going in his favor.
Alexander was to play Kazakhstan in the semi-finals of the United Cup and to defeat Stefanos Tsitsipas. Although that is no longer news. The sequence of games in the Spaniard’s favour continued until 1-1 in the second set. It was then that the third seed achieved the fourth break of the match to make it 3-1. He had 4-1, but gave up his serve for the first time.
The score was tied at three and two more break points for the Kazakh. Shevchenko took advantage of the second. Alcaraz had stopped and his opponent did exactly the opposite. Much more active on his feet, he went to 5-3. The Spaniard reacted in time, winning four games in a row. The third set only had the story that Carlos wanted. With a more powerful forehand, helped by the five grams more in the neck of the racket, everything is easier. That’s why he presented a statistic of 38 winners, 20 more than his first victim on the courts of Melbourne Park.
Nishioka, the next
The Spaniard will face Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka, the world No. 65, in the second round on Wednesday. The Spaniard won the only previous meeting between the two at the 2022 Paris Masters.
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