The coming Australian Open is shaping up to be one of the most exciting in recent memory. With so many top players competing, it’s not easy to guess who will come out on top. One player who could make a big impact is Carlos Alcaraz.
Though he doesn’t have as much experience as some of his rivals, he has shown flashes of brilliance and could easily go all the way. In this article, we look at what are the factors going in favour of Alcaraz – and against him – when it comes to his chances of winning the Australian Open 2023.
Background on Carlos Alcaraz
Carlos Alcaraz is a famous tennis player who was born in Spain in 2003. He started playing tennis at a young age and has since won numerous tournaments. Alcaraz is currently the number 1 ranked tennis player in the world.
In addition to his accomplishments on the court, Alcaraz is also known for his philanthropic work off the court.
It hasn’t taken long for Carlos Alcaraz to develop into one of the best tennis players in the world. Always a promising young talent, he has taken things to the next level in 2022 and a few weeks ago became the youngest ever world number one when he defeated Casper Ruud in four sets to win the US Open.
With the Australian Open the next Grand Slam on the calendar, there will invariably be plenty of discussion surrounding whether the teenager is ready to add to his trophy collection, but is he ready to do what very few players in history have done and win consecutive majors?
The Case for Alcaraz at the 2023 Australian Open
At just 19 years of age, Carlos Alcaraz has already proven that he has what it takes to compete at the top level – and not just through his recent triumph at Flushing Meadows.
Earlier this year, he also became the youngest ever winner of each of the Rio Open, Miami Open and Madrid Open, and he made the quarterfinals of this year’s French Open and last year’s US Open.
Few would disagree with the fact that the Spaniard is destined for a great career. Winning a Grand Slam at the age of just 19 and catapulting himself to the top of the world rankings might put him ahead of the projections of many at this stage of his career, but that doesn’t mean that he’s not capable of staying there.
He’s beaten many very good and significantly more experienced players at major tournaments already, and he’s only going to get better.
What’s more, Alcaraz has a style of play which makes him a dangerous opponent on any surface. He is competent all over the court; playing predominantly from the baseline, his forehand is a clear strength, but that’s not to say that his backhand is a weakness by any means.
He also has an excellent serve, while arguably his most notable attribute is the incredible athleticism which makes him so terrific defensively and which, when combined with his powerful groundstrokes, enables him to turn defence into offence incredibly quickly.
All of these traits have earned him comparisons, at different times, to the greats; his court coverage is comparable to Djokovic, his footwork and inside-out forehand to Federer, his peak footspeed to Nadal.
His is a game which will work on any surface, against any opponent, and which will endure throughout his career, so it’s hard to see him not being there when the whips are cracking in Melbourne.
The Case Against Alcaraz at the Australian Open
The main thing going against Alcaraz at the Australian Open is his lack of experience.
Evidently, that wasn’t an issue at the US Open and he arguably more dangerous than ever having climbed the top of the mountain, but he’ll still be four months away from his 20th birthday when the Australian Open rolls around and wouldn’t be the first player in history to suffer some form of regression after a white hot start to their career.
Clearly this isn’t a result of any form of athletic define, but rather is typically something which comes from between the ears. And despite his success, Alcaraz has still shown his age at times in this regard.
As commentator Gil Gross noted, rarely have Alcaraz’s losses come in straight sets; so sound is his actual game that few, if any, opponents have managed to comprehensively dismantle him, but in crunch situations he has at times failed to capitalise on big moments – not unsurprising for someone of his age.
This won’t necessarily be something that follows him for his whole career, but at 19, he’s certainly still got room for improvement from a mental standpoint.
Alcaraz has also not had a great deal success of the Australian Open.
Of course, that’s in just two attempts, so it’s not a lot of data to go on, but nonetheless in the two years that he’s been competing in Grand Slams, it’s in Melbourne where he’s worst performed.
At each other major he’s made it to at least the fourth round, and has made the quarters at two of them, but his two performances at the Australian Open have yielded just three wins, and losses in the second and then the third rounds.
He will enter the 2023 Australian Open as the best player he’s ever been at the tournament, but his relative lack of success at the tournament is still worth noting.
By the time the Australian Open rolls around, one thing is for sure; Carlos Alcaraz will be one of the favourites. The early odds have him right up there wherever you look – from betting sites in India through to local ones in Australia – and that’s not likely to change any time soon.
Having been on the ATP Tour for such a short period of time he still has plenty to prove despite being the current world number one, but he has shown no reason to question his ability to stay at the top for a long time to come.
Winning the Australian Open and subsequently becoming the winner of consecutive Grand Slams will be no mean feat, but Alcaraz is absolutely capable of doing just that.