At the start of 2023 season Carlos Alcaraz set a goal for himself to clinch one of the four majors and now after achieving his target, the 20-year who is celebrating the middle of year seems to set his sights on US Open and rest of the year and is already fancying about a dream-like 2024 campaign.
After his incredible breakthrough 2022 season which saw him win his maiden grand slam in New York and become youngest ever world #1, there were doubts about the fiery Spaniard to catch the second season syndrome.
A lot of young players go off the rails a year after their first big success – take for example Austrian Dominic Thiem and Daniil Medvedev in the most recent cases – but Alcaraz being a different beast has already shut any of his demons down by securing a classic SW19 showdown against Novak Djokovic who not only lost the final but also his unbeaten streak on the Center Court since 2013.
In an interview with L’Équipe, Alcaraz was asked about his plans for the remainder of the calendar after winning the showpiece Wimbledon final and he replied: “To win a second.”
The 20-year old with elevated confidence will be a favorite to win the second Grand Slam at the US Open as he starts his title defense at the end of August.
The Murcia native has earned the membership of a unique 5-player-club having multiple slams in the Open Era under the age of 21. Mats Wilander (4), Bjorn Borg (3), Boris Becker (2) and Rafael Nadal (20 are the others to record the feat.
After Flushing Meadows, the hard-hitting Spaniard will turn his focus to ATP World tour finals to end the 2023 season. When asked about the goal of beating his idol Rafael Nadal for his maiden RG title at the Parisian Clay in the following year, he replied: “It could be a good goal. But it will be the same every year: win a Grand Slam every year.”
The Paris Olympics takes place next year and ATP #1 admitted that his dreaming for a medal in 2024. One of his aspirations for the next year also involves his childhood idol Nadal as he admitted that it would be a dream to partners with the 22-time Grand Slam Champion in the doubles at the summer Olympics games 2024.
“It would be a dream. Not only to win a medal at singles or doubles, but just to live the experience of a doubles with your idol would be a memory that I would keep with special affection,” he said while talking to Spain’s radio COPE in another interview.