Rested & refreshed, Alcaraz looks ahead to grass swing

Twelve months ago, Carlos Alcaraz arrived at the Cinch Championships in London having won only four tour-level matches on grass. The Spaniard went on to shine on the surface in 2023, winning 12 consecutive matches to lift trophies at the Queen’s Club and Wimbledon.

With confidence high, the 21-year-old Spaniard believes his success last year will help him quickly adjust to the grass.

“I have more matches in my bank on grass and now with the great run I had last year at Queen’s and Wimbledon, I know a little bit on how to play and understand the game a little bit on grass,” Alcaraz said in his pre-tournament press conference on Sunday. “I am more mature playing on this surface. The first practice I have done here, my movement wasn’t as good as last year but it is a slow process, so I have to be really focused in every practice and every match.”

Alcaraz arrives in London off the back of winning his third major title at Roland Garros. With his final victory against Alexander Zverev, the No. 2 player in the PIF ATP Rankings became the youngest player in history to win a slam on all three surfaces (US Open 2022, Wimbledon 2023).

The top seed at the Queen’s Club celebrated his Roland Garros triumph by celebrating with friends in Ibiza.

“I had a few days off. I went to Ibiza with a group of friends. I had fun. It was a great time celebrating Roland Garros and I just had fun,” Alcaraz said. “For me as a player, I need this kind of thing. Every player is different but for me to reach my best tennis I have to separate the professional part from the personal part. I have some days off to forget a little bit that I am a professional player. Being with my friends and family means I can rest a little bit.”

Alcaraz is 26-4 on the season, having won titles at Roland Garros and in Indian Wells. With Wimbledon starting at the end of June and the Olympics beginning in July, the Spaniard is set for a busy six weeks. For now, his focus is on Queen's and the grass.

“We have to be focused on the tournament that we are playing right now,” Alcaraz said. “Roland Garros was a fantastic two weeks for me, a dream come true lifting the trophy. But right now my mind has to be here on the grass to be ready. As soon as I can to play good tennis and to get ready for Wimbledon. Right now my focus is on the grass and then after that, my mind will be on clay again to be at my best for the Olympics.”