“Here in New York, it’s crazy. I love playing here,” Carlos Alcaraz previously declared in a post-match presser. On Wednesday, Alcaraz acknowledged the impressive play of the Australian qualifier Li Tu during their evening match on Ashe. However, Alcaraz’s experience and skill ultimately prevailed, leading to a 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 victory. Returning to the scene of his 2022 Grand Slam triumph, Alcaraz savored the moment on the iconic Ashe court. And before taking on Botic Van de Zandschulp, the 21-year-old found himself in a peculiar situation.

Despite his dominance on the tennis court, the former US Open champion is just a regular pedestrian navigating the busy streets of New York City. A recent video from one of the potential onlookers captured the four-time Grand Slam champion patiently waiting for a traffic signal. Dressed casually in a black hoodie, shorts, and blue and yellow sneakers, Carlitos stood out for his humility and mindfulness.

For Alcaraz, he’s still trying to enjoy every moment, capture the best of each city he stops in. “The difference I feel when I come here to New York is the energy I feel in the city, playing the tournament,” he says. “People have more energy. For me, it is a huge difference.”

But he’s trying not to change too much, even with the uniqueness of New York. “I’m trying to keep the same routine,” he says. “If things are going well, why change? The previous slams went well, so I am trying to focus.” Alcaraz, accompanied by family and friends, strives to maintain a sense of home while on tour. This comfort allows him to concentrate fully on his tennis.

After extending his major match-winning streak to 15 after a 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 win against the World No. 186 qualifier, Carlitos said, “I enjoy every single time I play here in New York. It is one of the most electric crowds I play in front of. For me, it’s a huge honor to play here once again.” The French Open winner is certainly giving his career’s best performance this year, with two consecutive grand slam titles and a debut run to the Olympics final! 

Although he took a short hiatus from the sport owing to his arm injury, Alcaraz emerged stronger than ever following that. The Indian Wells winner recently opened up on the areas that he intends to improve after his latest match.

Carlos Alcaraz on improving his “disconnections” during a match

Carlos Alcaraz is the second-quickest man to 60 major victories in the Open Era. The Spanish star, who debuted in 2018, reached the No. 1 ranking in Sept 2022, following his US Open triumph. Yet, the 4-time Grand Slam winner keeps himself grounded, constantly finding ways to hone his skills a bit more. Therefore, after his R1 victory, Alcaraz revealed his future strategy.

“It’s something I’ve often said I have to improve on; ‘disconnections’. These are things I have to improve, avoiding those kinds of disconnections. I can’t allow myself to make so many errors without knowing why… I went from two in the first set to 18 in the second. That’s a big change, and that’s why the set got away from me,” he said. For context. Alcaraz dropped three consecutive games, including a topsy-turvy 10-minute service game at 4-5 in the second set. He also committed 18 unforced errors.

Nevertheless, the 15-time ATP singles titlist acknowledged how he is content with his level of game. “I felt good, apart from those small things I have to improve on.” It’s fair to say that the NYC is indeed treating him well, while Carlos Alcaraz himself is enjoying his time to the fullest!