Teenage Spanish star Carlos Alcaraz said the best part about being touted as the future of Grand Slam tennis is that he is realizing a “dream that is not for everyone.”
The 19-year-old Alcaraz defeated Argentine lucky loser Juan Ignacio Londero 6-4, 6-2, 6-0 to advance to the second round of the French Open on Sunday.
Bidding to become just the eighth teenager to capture a major men’s title, he is tipped to end the dominance of 13-time Roland Garros champion Rafael Nadal and two-time winner Novak Djokovic.
Photo: AFP
“I would say the best thing about being Carlos right now is that I’m reaching my dream,” said Alcaraz, who reached the third round in Paris a year ago on his main-draw debut as a qualifier.
“I’m really happy with playing tennis — playing these kinds of tournaments, these kinds of stadiums, is not for everyone, so I would say that is the best thing,” Alcaraz said.
The sixth seed next faces compatriot Albert Ramos-Vinolas for a place in the last 32.
“I have been watching this tournament many years. It’s a unique place to play and I have been dreaming of playing here,” Alcaraz said.
He broke Londero in the 10th game of a tight opening set, and then ran away with the match by breaking five more times over the next two sets on Court Philippe Chatrier.
Alcaraz, who was ranked 97 this time last year, has won four titles this season — three coming on clay in Rio de Janeiro, Barcelona and Madrid, where he defeated Nadal, Djokovic and Alexander Zverev respectively to lift the trophy.
Despite his rapid ascent, Alcaraz is doing his best to focus on the basics and put all the extra attention he is receiving to one side.
“I am trying to be focused just on the tournaments, on the matches,” he said. “[With] everyone talking about you, just focus on what I have to improve, what I have to do on the matches, what I have to do in the everyday to be ready in the tournament.”
Alcaraz became the youngest US Open quarter-finalist of the Open era in September last year, and is the only player to knock Nadal and Djokovic out of the same clay tournament.
He was just two years old when Nadal won his first Roland Garros title in 2005, and said the approach of his idol is one that he intends to follow.
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