Top analyst assesses why Carlos Alcaraz is ‘destined’ to win the ATP Finals

Ewan West 16 Nov 2023 10:55 AM

Carlos Alcaraz reacts at the 2023 ATP Finals

Former world No 2 Alex Corretja has declared that his fellow Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz is “destined” to win the ATP Finals in his career because it suits his personality.

The two-time French Open runner-up asserted that, while he felt the event would be “very difficult” for Rafael Nadal to win early in his career, he is “sure” Alcaraz can do it.

Corretja was the last Spaniard to win the year-end championships, with this year’s edition marking the 25-year anniversary of his triumph at the 1998 ATP Finals. The 17-time ATP titlist recovered from two sets down to beat compatriot Carlos Moya in a memorable five-set final.

Legendary Spaniard Nadal has been unable to secure the prestigious title in his career, with his best ATP Finals results being final losses in 2010 and 2013 to Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic respectively.

Alcaraz is making his debut at the ATP Finals this year, having missed the 2022 edition through injury after qualifying. The 20-year-old fell in three sets to Alexander Zverev in his opening match, before earning a straight-set victory over Andrey Rublev on Wednesday to keep his hopes alive.

The world No 2 will take on third-ranked Daniil Medvedev, who has already secured his place in the semi-finals, in his final round-robin match on Friday.

ALCARAZ FROM DOWNTOWN TURIN 🦸@carlosalcaraz | #NittoATPFinals pic.twitter.com/72tuGZ6eMo

— ATP Tour (@atptour) November 15, 2023

Speaking in an interview with Eurosport, Corretja, a tennis commentator and analyst, backed two-time Major champion Alcaraz to follow in his footsteps.

“Above all, what I would tell him is to be himself, that’s the most important thing. Perhaps I would highlight that, as a Spaniard, at the end of the year people are very touched, very saturated, but we as Spaniards have a drive and an insistence learned from a young age that not everyone is mentally prepared to face,” said the Spaniard.

“That’s what I would say to him, that although perhaps the surface adapts better to others, he should think that he can make up for it with all the learning of a player who has grown up in a land like Spain. From the outside it seems that it is not the most favourable tournament for a Spanish tennis player, but I am sure that he can do it.

“Just as with Rafa I had the feeling that it was going to be a very difficult title to win, whether due to his style of play or how he reached the end of the year, with Alcaraz I have the feeling that he is going to win it at some point, I’m sure.

“Alcaraz is destined to win the Masters (ATP Finals), because of his personality it suits him perfectly that all the matches are big, with 15,000 people supporting him and in prime time.”

Alcaraz’s encounter with Medvedev will be a rematch of the US Open semi-final he lost in four sets to the Russian in September.