Carlos Alcaraz puts rankings out of his mind as he seeks US Open title repeat
World No 1 Carlos Alcaraz believes that he is a much better player than he was when he arrived in New York last year.
Alcaraz is once again locked in a battle for the top spot, but considering that is largely out of his hands he has said that his focus is on winning each match he is faced with rather than being preoccupied with thoughts of rankings and title defences.
He feels that he has done a lot of maturing in the past year and is confident of a strong defence of his US Open title.
“I feel that I’m more mature on court. I feel that I’m a better player than I was a year ago,” Alcaraz said in his pre-tournament press conference. “I got my first Grand Slam last year, but I feel like I’m more mature and I’m better.”
Alcaraz has revealed that he is trying to mirror everything he did ahead of his maiden Grand Slam win last season.
“I try to do exactly the same thing that I did last year, trying to practise the same way that I’m going to play, and focus on that. I’m not focus on the defending champion, the points, whatever,” Alcaraz said. “I’m just focused on showing my best level, trying to improve in every practice, and let’s see how it is going to be in the tournament.”
Alcaraz shared the court with an unusual exhibition hitting partner this week as he faced NBA star Jimmy Butler.
Clearly game recognises game as Butler and Alcaraz seem to have become good friends.
“I started to know him one year ago, to have a close relationship that is pretty good,” Alcaraz said.
“He’s a really huge fan of tennis. He trying to play. I think it’s great for tennis to have Jimmy coming to tournaments and supporting us. It’s great. Talking about me having him supporting me, a great athlete, NBA star, so it’s for me almost crazy to have a good relationship with someone like Jimmy.”
Alcaraz is drawn to face sixth seed Jannik Sinner in the quarterfinals, a replay of their thrilling encounter from the previous year’s competition. The 2021 champion Daniil Medvedev is also in the same half of the draw as the Spaniard.
The Spaniard will start his title defence against Germany’s Dominik Koepfer.
Alcaraz comes into the US Open off the back of an epic Masters final loss to Novak Djokovic in Cincinnati.
