Carlos Alcaraz is set to participate in the ATP 250 tournament in Buenos Aires this week, as he aims to secure his first title of the season. When asked about his most important clay-court event, the young Spanish player prioritized the Olympic Games over Roland Garros, expressing his dream of winning a gold medal for Spain.
In July, Carlos will make his debut at the Olympic Games, returning to Paris after his attempt at winning the Roland Garros title in June. Last year, he made his first appearance in the main draw at Roland Garros, successfully navigating through three qualifying rounds and defeating two opponents to reach the round of 32. Unfortunately, he was defeated in straight sets by Jan-Lennard Struff.
Two years ago, Carlos made a significant breakthrough in Paris, advancing to the quarter-finals before ultimately losing to Alexander Zverev after a grueling battle. In June of last year, he achieved even greater success by reaching the semi-finals in Paris, triumphing over the previous year’s runner-up Stefanos Tsitsipas.
This set the stage for an exciting showdown with Novak Djokovic, as Carlos aimed to secure a spot in his second Major final. After sharing the first two sets, Novak ultimately prevailed with a 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1 victory that lasted over three hours. Carlos struggled with cramps in his body during the latter sets, ultimately bringing an end to his campaign in the semi-finals.
Despite winning the second set, Carlos was unable to handle the pressure and succumbed to cramps in sets three and four. Novak got off to a strong start, serving well and securing a break in the fourth game with a winner at the net. He saved three break points in the seventh game and earned a set point on Carlos’ serve at 5-2. Although Carlos denied him, held his serve, and created a break opportunity in the ninth game, Novak erased it with a powerful serve and ultimately claimed the set 6-3 after a challenging 56 minutes.
Both players showcased strong serving performances in the second set, but it was Carlos who managed to secure a crucial break in the seventh game, taking a 4-3 lead. He served for the set at 5-3, but Novak responded with a backhand down the line winner to break back. Novak then saved three set points on his serve in the following game, surviving the scare and leveling the score at 5-5. Carlos saved a break point in the 11th game and managed to secure a late break a few minutes later, equalizing the overall score at 1-1.
However, Carlos’ hopes of defeating his formidable opponent were shattered in the third game of the third set. Struggling with pain and cramps in his right leg, the young player received a game penalty and took a medical timeout that ultimately did not provide relief. Novak capitalized on the situation, winning six consecutive games and securing a 6-1 victory in the set, solidifying his path to the final. In the fourth set, Novak continued his dominance by racing to a 5-0 lead. He served for the match in the seventh game, firing three winners and holding at 15 to secure his place in the title clash.
Reflecting on his priorities, Carlos Alcaraz stated, “I prioritize the Olympic Games over Roland Garros this year. Winning the Olympic title for my country would be the ultimate achievement in sport. While conquering both events in Paris would be incredible, the Olympic Games hold a special significance for me.”
According to the Source tennisworldusa.org