Carlos Alcaraz on his big goal: ‘I am clear about my dream, which is to be No 1 in the world’
Tennis players often shy away from declaring their goals and dreams publicly, but Carlos Alcaraz is part of a rare breed as he has made it clear that becoming world No 1 is his top priority while he also insists he is ready to win a Grand Slam.
Alcaraz is one of the hottest properties in the world of tennis as he has won four ATP Tour titles this year and has climbed to a career-high of No 6 in the rankings.
The teenager has won two ATP Masters titles – the Miami Open, which was his maiden Masters 1000 crown, and the Madrid Open – while he also lifted trophies at the Rio Open and Barcelona Open.
Although he remains grounded, the teenager is pretty clear about his ambitions.
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Asked by Argentina’s La Nacion how he keeps his feet on the ground, he replied: “I have to thank my family and my team, who are always telling me what I have to do, what is good for me and what is not so good.
“In the end, I want my whims, I want my things and many times they are not ideal right now. So that’s when my team and my family come in to tell me: ‘Wait a bit, don’t be in such a hurry, go little by little’, and so on.
“I am also a guy who is quite clear about things. I am clear about my goal, I am clear about my dream, which is to be No 1 in the world and no matter how many tournaments come, no matter how many things come right now, I still haven’t managed to be No 1. It helps me to be with my feet on the soil to continue trying to fulfill my dreams.”
The 19-year-old has tasted only three defeats this year with his record 28-3 and many believe he is one of the favourites heading into the French Open next week.
While some players latch onto the underdog tag when it comes to Grand Slams, Alcaraz is not one of them.
“I’m not afraid to say that I’m ready to win a Grand Slam,” he said. “Physically I feel very well. I am mentally strong. I am a strong player and in the end that is what it takes to win a Grand Slam.
“Now the level is accompanying me. I feel good and quite confident. It’s a host of things that can throw me up and I’m not afraid to say I’m ready to do it.”
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