Carlos Alcaraz is in for a fierce battle at the US Open. The Spaniard needs back-to-back wins now more than ever as Novak Djokovic is set to snatch what once belonged to him. The Serb shall reclaim the World No.1 ranking if he wins even a match more than the Spaniard. At this crucial juncture, the defending champion reflected on how Roger Federer influenced his game.
The World No.1 had previously revealed that he loves to play against the best. But he did not get a chance to play against the Swiss Maestro, which disappoints Alcaraz to date. But Federer’s profound impact on the Spaniard lives on, and Alcaraz disclosed all about it.
The Roger Federer effect on a young Carlos Alcaraz
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Alcaraz has the perfect humility like Federer, as the Spaniard refused to include himself in the ‘Big 3’ after winning the Wimbledon Championship last month. When the world hailed him as the best combination of Big 3’s skills, the 20-year-old refused to encourage the high regard.
Before turning professional, the Spaniard would experiment with all kinds of shots he had watched. After his first-round win, Alcaraz was asked if his coaches tried to teach him the Swiss veteran’s signature shot. The 2022 US Open winner said, “Well, I think it’s not true (smiling). I mean, when I was young, I loved to try new things. Probably one-handed backhand was one of those things that I practicing just one day.”
The two-time Grand Slam champion added, “I love to do it different shots, different things on court. Probably that day I watched Roger Federer match, and I try to imitate him.”?The Spaniard also revealed his best shots and which shots he is working on.
The defending champion of the US Open makes his improvement clear
The 12-singles title winner said he did not practice a single-handed backhand more. He also assured that his backhand has only got better over time. But Alcaraz admitted that his forehand shot is still his best. The Wimbledon final witnessed the finest shots of the Spaniard, which stunned the Serbian legend.
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Alcaraz admires Federer’s game and calls it pure art. Though the Spaniard watched Rafael Nadal a lot, he declared that the Swiss veteran’s elegance and charm set him apart from the other players. Alcaraz feels that among the Big 3, Federer can pull the crowd toward tennis like no other.
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There is no denying that the Swiss Maestro’s game is like a magnificent painting. Alcaraz’s shots are also a treat to watch, though he has a long way to go. The Spaniard has his whole career ahead of him, and only time will tell if his game can be called “pure art”.
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