The Spaniard ruled out a chance to lose to Serbian Novak Djokovic or Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas, who is still in the running at the Australian Open.
Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, world number 1, declared on Tuesday that 2023 will be “a year of pressure” for him due to his current status and stressed that If the Serbian Novak Djokovic or the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas take the leadership of the ATP from him, it will be “because he deserves it more than me.”
The young 19-year-old Spanish tennis player made these statements at the Romea Theater in Murcia, where he attended the Laureles award ceremony awarded by the Official College of Journalists of the Region of Murcia.
“It’s always nice to receive an award,” said a grateful Alcaraz to then refer to the recovery of his injury to the semimembranosus muscle in his right leg which he suffered during training and which prevented him from participating in the Australian Open, first Grand Slam of the season and that was contested in Melbourne.
“I am progressing well and fast and a few days ago I returned to training on the track. I really want to play, more than ever, because I’ve never been this long without competing,” he admitted.

The tennis player from El Palmar, who played his last match on the circuit on November 4 of last year in the quarterfinals of the Masters 1,000 in Paris-Bercy -in that clash against the Danish Holger Rune he suffered another injury that kicked him out- , He did not hide a certain anxiety to reappear, something he will do, except for a setback, in mid-February at the ATP 250 in Buenos Aires.
“I’m watching the Australian Open from home and it’s hard because I think I could be there, but I’m a positive person and I think this break is good for me to realize some things I can do better on the track and outside of it.”he commented.
In Melbourne, Djokovic and Tsitsipas, heavy favorites to take the title, also opted to occupy the spot where Alcaraz has been since winning the US Open on September 11.
“I’m watching what Djokovic and Tsitsipas are doing, but I’m not worried. To get my number 1 there, either of them has to be the champion and If it happens it is because the one who achieves it is more deserving than me”said the Spaniard, who knew what awaited him.
“It will be a year of pressure for me because of the titles I won in 2023 and it is very long and It can start well and end badly or vice versa”, said.
Source: EFE
Source: Tycsports

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