Carlos Alcaraz has bad news for his rivals with latest remarks as he also gives insight into aggressive tactics
Carlos Alcaraz is now just three wins away from completing the Sunshine Double and he admitted he is finally feeling 100% again following his loss of form and injury problems earlier in the year.
Fresh from lifting the Indian Wells Open trophy, the two-time Grand Slam winner won his ninth consecutive match on the American hard-court swing which is just a timely reminder for his rivals that he has regained his best form.
The world No 2 produced another enthralling performance as he overpowered Lorenzo Musetti in the fourth round of the Miami Open, winning 6-3, 6-3 in just 90 minutes.
His run at the Sunshine Double comes following a lean spell for the Spaniard as he suffered a surprise quarter-final exit at the Australian Open and was then stunned in the semi-final of the Argentina Open.
To add to his woes, he injured his ankle in the opening moments of his Rio Open campaign and was forced to retire from the match.
But all that is in the past now as the 20-year-old confirmed he is “feeling great” with the injury no longer playing on his mind.
“I don’t know if this is the best game that I’m playing, but without a doubt it’s the best feeling,” Alcaraz said.
“I’m feeling great on the court. I’m moving great, not injured or thinking about the ankle [injury] anymore. I think [this is] the best feeling since last summer.”
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It was a dominant display against Musetti as Alcaraz broke in the opening game of the match and again in game nine to secure the first set. He then edged ahead in game six but the Italian broke back immediately only for Alcaraz to secure another break in game eight.
He now leads his head-to-head against Musetti 3-1 and his tactics against the Italian paid off.
“I know that his style is playing from the back with spin. I tried to not let him feel comfortable on the court,” the reigning Wimbledon champion said.
“I tried to play my game, play aggressive with my shots, go to the net, drop shots, my style. I think I did pretty well and I’m really happy with my performance.”
Up next is Grigor Dimitrov after the 11th-seeded Bulgarian defeated Hubert Hurkacz 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-3) and if he comes through that match then there could be another rematch against Alexander Zverev on the cards.
Fourth seed Zverev, who faces Fabian Marozsan in the quarter-final, defeated Alcaraz at this year’s Australian Open before the Spaniard turned the tables in the last eight of the Indian Wells Open last week.
