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Carlos Alcaraz Gets ‘Special’ Mention From Idol Rafael Nadal Following Monte Carlo Glory

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Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal

Carlos Alcaraz is back and how! Last month, he failed to pull off a three-peat in Indian Wells and then crashed out in the opening match of the Miami Open. But the four-time Slam winner didn’t take long to regain his dominating form as the clay season got underway. The former World No.1 bested Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti on Sunday and clinched his maiden Monte Carlo Masters trophy. As expected, the congratulatory messages poured in for Alcaraz from all quarters. But the most special one came from none other than his idol and 11-time Monte Carlo champ himself – Rafael Nadal.

For the unversed, Alcaraz was trailing against Musetti initially in the first set of the Monte Carlo final, as the Italian took it 6-3. But then it all turned into ‘the Carlos Alcaraz show’ in The Principality. The Spaniard dominated the next two sets with a breadstick and a bagel, sealing the match 6-3, 6-1, 6-0. While  Musetti was outskilled by Alcaraz, a leg injury that surfaced after the first set didn’t help either.

Alcaraz has won the Monte Carlo only for the first time, in his second appearance in the event after 2022, where he had crashed out in the Round of 32. After the stunning victory on Sunday, he’s hoping to win in The Principality “more than once.”

“Thinking about 11 is impossible, honestly,” he added, referring to his idol Rafael Nadal. During his two-decade professional career, the 14-time Roland Garros champion succeeded in winning eleven Monte Carlo trophies as well. And guess what? The record holder himself came forward to shower praising words on Alcaraz’s phenomenal campaign. On X, he wrote, “Congratulations @carlosalcaraz! Congratulations on 🏆 in such a special place 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻”

Apart from Nadal, however, other notable tennis figures also expressed their admiration for Alcaraz’s stunning win. The 7-time Slam champion Patrick McEnroe took to X to write, “Carlos is ba,ck Huge title @ROLEXMCMASTERS”

Not only him, but Alcaraz’s good friend and Real Madrid soccer star Vinícius Junior also lauded his milestone. On IG, he commented with clapping emojis, admiring the 21-year-old’s massive accomplishment, and why not. After all, Carlitos is the first Spanish ATP player to win the Monte Carlo Masters since Nadal lifted the trophy back in 2018. Overall, it’s his sixth ATP Masters 1000 title,

But hey, there’s more! Alcaraz has also witnessed a jump in the ATP rankings after his dream run in The Principality.

Rafael Nadal

Carlos Alcaraz becomes No.2 again after Monte Carlo triumph

Following his emphatic win over Musetti, Carlos Alcaraz said that he’s not thinking about rankings anymore. Instead, his only goal is to enjoy his time on the court and play his best tennis, rather than thinking about the results too much. “Something that I realised that I had to do is not think about anything else but enjoying. So I’m not thinking about the ranking anymore,” he said.

Continuing further, he added, “If I win, it is great. If I don’t win, I will learn and just keep going and making the things that make me happy.”

While Carlos might not be thinking about ranking, it’s taking care of itself. After the Monte Carlo glory, Alcaraz has made a stellar jump. The former World No.1, who had slipped to No.3 in the list a while ago, has now returned to the second spot. His title victory earned him 1,000 ranking points, thus pushing his overall total to 7,720 from 6,720. Yes, Jannik Sinner is still holding the first position, but Alcaraz is now breathing down his neck. Alexander Zverev, in the meantime, has slipped to the third position. He’s now got his points reduced to 7,595 from 7,645 following a R32 exit in Monte Carlo.

As he didn’t make an appearance at Monte Carlo, Jannik Sinner lost points he earned at the tournament last season when he reached the semifinal round. From 10,330, his ranking points have now come down to 9,930. With Alcaraz adding 1,000 to his tally as well, the gap has closed even further. However, still, there’s a difference of 2,210 points between Sinner and Alcaraz.

While Alcaraz can’t reach No.1 before the Roland Garros, he can reduce the gap further. If he wins his next event in Barcelona and then Madrid, Alcaraz will get an additional 720 points. If he enters the French Open with two more title triumphs to his name, Alcaraz will have a golden chance to reclaim the top position in the rankings at Roland Garros. Are you backing Carlitos to become the ATP No.1 again?

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TENNIS

Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek’s Frustrations Resonate as Retired Tennis Star Shines Spotlight on a Persistent Tennis Issue

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Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek

The intense and overflowing schedules of the ATP and WTA tours have ignited a fiery debate among players and fans alike. Rising stars like Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek have already voiced their concerns about the grueling demands of the tour, and now they have gained an unexpected ally in former tennis player CoCo Vandeweghe. Vandeweghe’s candid critique of the harsh scheduling adds weight to the conversation, raising crucial questions about player well-being.

Over time, the role of WTA’s “mandatory” events has changed dramatically. WTA players are obligated to compete in 21 tournaments annually under the current rules. This consists of ten WTA 1000-level competitions in addition to four major Grand Slam tournaments. Top players must participate in six WTA 500-level tournaments in addition to these 14 well-known events.

During the October 27 live podcast episode of the Tennis Channel, CoCo Vandeweghe discussed the critical problems related to the demanding schedules of the WTA and ATP tours. Vandeweghe offered insightful information about the psychological and physical toll that such rigorous schedules may have on athletes because of her personal experience as a professional athlete.

She stated, “I think, yes, I think it’s becoming too redundant at this point in the schedule where it just, it just keeps happening over and over again. And most of the top players are saying, we’re gonna wait for the finals or we have Billie Jean King cup and they’re, they’re highlighting those important tournaments. So what are the important tournaments out there?”

Previously, prominent tennis players like Iga Swiatek have expressed their frustrations with scheduling issues, which have been a recurring issue in the sport. Swiatek expressed her unease about the overwhelming number of tournaments throughout the season, stating, “I think we have too many tournaments in the season. It’s not going to end well. It makes tennis less fun for us. Obviously, I love playing in all these places, but it’s pretty exhausting.”

CoCo Vandeweghe previously also addressed the WTA’s mandatory events and the new rules implemented by the organization during the TC Live Podcast. “I think it’s ridiculous that the WTA is asking all these players to play these many events. I went through this personally,” she remarked.

Not only that, even Carlos Alcaraz has raised a similar concern, highlighting how the hectic schedule can create a problem for the players.

Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek

Carlos Alcaraz’s strong statement on ATP’s hectic scheduling

While the majority of the biggest events have already taken place, the final third of the season is shaping up to be a hectic one for players. Carlos Alcaraz, speaking at the Laver Cup press conference, expressed his feelings about the rushed schedule, noting that the intense back-to-back tournaments can be physically and mentally taxing.

He stated, “I’m the kind of player who thinks there are a lot of tournaments during the year, mandatory tournament, and probably during the next few years gonna be even more tournaments, more mandatory tournaments. So, I mean, probably they are going to kill us in some way (smiling).”

With support from fellow players like Iga Swiatek and insights from former pros like CoCo Vandeweghe, the dialogue surrounding the ATP and WTA’s scheduling practices is more crucial than ever. Moreover, the growing chorus of voices advocating for change highlights the need for a more balanced and sustainable approach for the players.

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