adminCarlos Alcaraz has been warned over making a costly mistake in his follow-up season after winning the US Open and becoming the youngest world No 1 in ATP history.
The 19-year-old recently lost the top spot to Novak Djokovic after the Serb won the Australian Open while Alcaraz was forced to pull out injured, but Alex Corretja told Express Sport that the Spaniard shouldn’t obsess over the world No 1 ranking.
Alcaraz is yet to begin his 2023 season after getting injured in training and being forced to withdraw from the Australian Open. It came after a separate abdominal issue cut his breakthrough 2022 season short as he had to miss the ATP Finals and Davis Cup just weeks after winning his maiden Grand Slam title and becoming No 1 in the world.
After being left unable to compete in the first Major of the year, the six-time title winner was overtaken by Djokovic in the rankings as the Serb won his 10th Australian Open crown and lept from No 5 to No 1 as a result, with Alcaraz dropping into the second spot. He now sits just 340 ranking points behind Djokovic but has been warned not to make the mistake of “obsessing” over trying to return to and retain the top spot.
Speaking exclusively to Express Sport ahead of the US Open, retired fellow Spaniard Corretja explained why he thought Alcaraz had been struck down by injuries as he offered some valuable advice to the 19-year-old.
“It’s temporary,” he said of the injury woes.
“It’s a pity because he was working very hard to play well in Australia.
‘‘I think the major effort he made to win the US Open, to become No 1, all that stuff, it’s normal that it takes a lot of energy out of you and it takes a little while also to understand what’s going on to be No 1 and the expectations, but he is going to be soon ready again.” — Express Sport.
Online Reporter