By Richard Pagliaro | Wednesday, November 16, 2022
Carlos Alcaraz spent a lot of those ATP Finals pushing buttons.
Today, Alcaraz hoisted historical past.
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ATP Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi offered Alcaraz with the shiny, silver year-end world No. 1 trophy in a second that may be a seismic shift within the sport.
The 19-year-old Alcaraz is the youngest year-end world No. 1 within the historical past of the 50-season ATP year-end rankings. Alcaraz broke the prior youngest year-end file set by Hall of Famer Lleyton Hewitt, who was 20 when he defeated Sebastien Grosjean to win the 2001 ATP Finals and seal the highest spot earlier than his residence followers in Sydney, Australia.
“It means a lot to me,” Alcaraz advised the media in Turin. “I mean, to get this trophy, the world No. 1, to be part of tennis history along with a lot of legends, for me is an amazing feeling…
“It’s a tremendous achievement. I imply, all of the onerous work pays off. Yeah, for me it is unbelievable to elevate this trophy at this time.”
It’s been a rocket ride to the top of tennis for Alcaraz, who conquered Casper Ruud to win his maiden major championship at the US Open last September. Alcaraz concludes the 2022 season with a 57-13 record, five tournament titles, and $7.6 million in prize money.
Alcaraz finished 2021 ranked No. 32—his 31-spot rise to No. 1 is the biggest leap to the top spot from one year-end ranking to the next.
While celebrating coronation, Alcaraz admitted missing competition.
The Spanish teenager tore his left abdominal muscle at the Rolex Paris Masters last month, pulled the plug on his quarterfinal vs. 19-year-old Dane Holger Rune and was forced to withdraw from both the ATP Finals and Davis Cup Finals. Alcaraz says he’s been recovering and working his remote watching all the action from Turin on TV.
Alcaraz said his recovery is going well and he’s confident he will be 100 percent healthy in time for the 2023 Australian Open.
“Well, [recovery] goes very well. Is going actually quick, as nicely,” Alcaraz said. “I’m actually centered on recovering as quickly as doable. But I might say in every week we enhance so much within the damage. I’m going to say initially of the season, I’m going to be prepared, I’m going to be 100%.”
Will Alcaraz play a tune-up tournament in preparation for the Australian Open, which starts on January 16th?
As of now, Alcaraz says the plan is to go directly to Melbourne to practice and acclimate to conditions before launching 2023 at the AO.
“Right now I’ve some days off, some holidays, I imply, to disconnect a bit bit, to take a relaxation,” Alcaraz said. “But after that I’m centered on the pre-season, I’m centered on enhance, beginning Australian Open as higher as I can.
“I’m going to say I go to the Grand Slam, to the Australian Open, I’m going to go the first days of January.
“At the second that is the plan. I’m going to say that is the plan. Of course, I do not know the way the injure goes to go. But I might say I am going on to Australian Open.”
Photo credit score: Marco Bertorello