LONDON – Not to think about success in order to savor it again. This is Carlos Alcaraz’s recipe at Wimbledon to relive the joys achieved on the English grass a year ago.
“It’s special to be here as the defending champion, I’m trying to be really focused, take myself away from those emotions, not thinking about last year’s run, so I can do it again,” the world number three acknowledged during an event organized by his racquet brand.
The reigning champion of both European Grand Slams will face the challenge of winning Roland Garros and Wimbledon in the same year, something that only Rod Laver, Bjorn Borg, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic have achieved in the Open Era of the men’s tour.
The Spaniard assures that he is in top condition: “I feel free in my game, with my forehand at one hundred percent, I don’t think about those injuries that made me have a bad time during the clay tour”.
Alcaraz will be the one to open Centre Court this Monday as tradition dictates at the All England Lawn Club. The defending champion will have Estonian Mark Lajal as his first round opponent.
The 262nd in the world after passing the qualifiers and realizing this Friday his luck on the draw reposted with a touch of humor an Instagram story that gave him as a favorite to win the duel of tennis players born in 2003. “What road to the final? First round exit, bye bye.”
“I’ve watch Spain in the Euro,” Alcaraz joked, referring to his preparation for the title defense, in which he has trained with Stan Wawrinka, Grigor Dimitrov and Flavio Coboli: “I feel better every day.”
