‘I’m part of history’: Carlos Alcaraz received the world number 1 trophy on Wednesday in Turin on the sidelines of the Masters which he is not taking part in due to injury, but he has promised he will be ready for the Australian Open (January 16-29, 2023).
After his title at the US Open in September, the Spaniard became at 19 the youngest world No.1 since the ATP ranking existed (1973). Tuesday, the elimination of Rafael Nadal from the Masters also made him the youngest N.1 at the end of the year.
What does this N.1 trophy represent at the end of the season?
A lot. This trophy means that I am part of the history of tennis, alongside many legends. It’s an incredible feeling.
You receive this trophy on the sidelines of the end-of-year Masters in which you cannot participate due to an injury. Are you disappointed?
Yes, I’m disappointed not to be able to play the Masters. I really wanted to play them. But injuries happen in the life of a tennis player. But I am very happy to be able to lift a magnificent trophy (from N.1 in the world, editor’s note). It is a great success. All the hard work pays off.
Where are you with your injury, will you be back for the start of the season in Australia?
I’m very good. I recover very quickly. I am doing everything to be fully recovered as soon as possible. In one week (since he injured his abdominals during the Masters 1000 in Paris, editor’s note), the injury has decreased enormously. I will be ready for the start of the season, I will be 100%. The week after the injury, I did a lot of exercises because it’s important not to stop. Now I’m going to take a few days off to disconnect from tennis and rest. But after, I will resume the off-season work to improve myself and start the Australian Open as well as possible. I will leave for Australia in the first days of January. At the moment, the plan is to play the Australian Open directly.