World primary Carlos Alcaraz is assured he shall be able to compete at his finest stage at subsequent month’s Australian Open, regardless of an stomach damage that shortened his preseason coaching block.
The 19-year-old Spaniard recovered from a muscle tear in his left stomach that dominated him out of the ATP Finals and Davis Cup Finals on the finish of his final marketing campaign and solely began practising totally per week in the past.
Two defeats to Andrey Rublev and Casper Ruud on the Mubadala World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi this weekend helped Alcaraz dip his toes again into motion and he believes he has sufficient time to coach and discover his sport earlier than the primary Grand Slam of 2023 comes alongside on January 16.
“I would say the key is to practise a lot, spend a lot of hours on court. With that, you’re going to reach your best level and be ready for the season,” the reigning US Open champion instructed reporters within the UAE capital.
“I have one month before the Australian Open, so I have time to keep training, trying to reach my level and I would say I will be ready and 100 per cent heading into Australia.”
The Spanish teenager, who’s the youngest world No.1 in ATP historical past, is not going to contest any official tournaments previous to the Australian Open, however will take part in an exhibition on the Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club in Melbourne between January 10 and 12.
Alcaraz is conscious 2023 will include new experiences for him now that he’s a Grand Slam winner and is on the summit of the rankings.
“I have to be prepared for that, the pressure. The people, the players as well, are going to have all their eyes on me and I’m going to have to be prepared for that,” he defined.
But he additionally believes the truth that he’s coming off an damage and has not had a lot time to coach may relieve a number of the strain coming into Australia.
“Probably it’s going to help me a little bit to try not to think about the people, the expectations, and the ranking, and that kind of stuff,” he mentioned on Sunday.
“I’m just going to see myself better, trying to push myself to a high level. The expectations, the ranking, and the tournament is apart from that.
“Right now I’m focused on myself, on recovering my level and I would say little by little I’m recovering.”
Tsitsipas wins title
Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas celebrates after he beats Andrey Rublev of Russia within the last of the Mubadala World Tennis Championshi, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on Sunday.
| Photo Credit: AP
Meanwhile, world No.3 Casper Ruud can be trying to again up an exceptional season during which he reached two Grand Slam finals –- in Paris and New York –- and was runner-up on the ATP Finals in Turin.
The Norwegian, who secured third place on the exhibition in Abu Dhabi with a 6-1, 6-4 victory over Alcaraz on Sunday, has not had a lot day without work post-Turin, having participated in a South American tour with Rafael Nadal, however plans on having a correct coaching block in February after the Australian Open.
Discussing his outlook for 2023, Ruud mentioned: “I think it’s going to be fine no matter what. If I finish next year No.1, I’ll be the happiest man on earth probably.
“I’m going to need a big year in order to stay where I am. I know there are a lot of things to defend but in the end exactly which number you are, I don’t think it always matters as much.
“As long as you’re top eight or top 10, I think that’s where most players aim for when they start a new year.”
Greek world No.4 Stefanos Tsitsipas defeated Rublev on Sunday to safe the title in Abu Dhabi.