Carlos Alcaraz’s pre-season schedule: Key dates ahead of 2024 Australian Open revealed
The schedule Carlos Alcaraz will follow for the next six weeks to prepare for the 2024 season has been revealed, with the Spaniard’s plans before the Australian Open confirmed.
As explained recently by Alcaraz’s coach Juan Carlos Ferrero, the 20-year-old will not play any tournaments prior to the year’s first Grand Slam in January.
Alcaraz concluded his 2023 season at the ATP Finals in Turin, where he was defeated by eventual champion Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals on his debut appearance at the year-end championships.
The two-time Major winner had a career-best season this year, winning six titles and compiling an excellent 65-12 (84.4%) record as he finished as world No 2.
The Spaniard claimed two Masters 1000 crowns, two ATP 500 tournaments and an ATP 250 title, but the highlight was his triumph at Wimbledon — where he overcame Novak Djokovic in a five-set epic.
Following his victory at the All England Club in July, though, Alcaraz did not win another title and reached one final in the eight events he played and lost four of his last six matches of the season.
Alcaraz prevailed 7-6, 6-3 against world No 13 against Tommy Paul in an exhibition match played in front of almost 30,000 at the Plaza de Toros Mexico in Mexico City on Wednesday.
The shot that Alcaraz just hit in Mexico City. 🤣
Come on… pic.twitter.com/bxpPWIalTh
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) November 30, 2023
As explained in a report by Punto De Break, Alcaraz will now spend a week’s a holiday with friends in the Dominican Republic after his trip to Mexico.
The world No 2 will then train with Ferrero at his coach’s academy up until Christmas, before playing an exhibition match against Djokovic in Saudi Arabia on December 27. The Juan Carlos (JC) Ferrero Tennis Academy is located in Alicante in southern Spain.
Following the trip to Riyadh, the 20-year-old will return to Ferrero’s academy for a week of training, before travelling to Melbourne, where he will practise on-site ahead of the Australian Open.
Alcaraz is also expected to play in the Kooyong Classic exhibition tournament in Melbourne before the Grand Slam, although the roster is yet to be confirmed.
Key dates of Alcaraz’s schedule in the build-up to the Australian Open:
November 30 to December 6: Holiday with friends in the Dominican Republic
December 8 to December 24: Training block with double daily sessions at the Juan Carlos Ferrero Tennis Academy
December 27: Exhibition match with Novak Djokovic in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia)
December 29 to January 5: Training block at the Juan Carlos Ferrero Tennis Academy
January 7-13: Training at the 2024 Australian Open facilities
January 14: Start of the Australian Open 2024
Alcaraz missed this year’s Australian Open due to a leg injury, with Djokovic downing Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final to win the event for a record-extending 10th time.
The 20-year-old has made monumental strides since last competing at the Melbourne Grand Slam in 2022, when he was beaten in five sets by Matteo Berrettini in the third round.
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