Obsession with the No. 1 ranking will put "additional weight" on young Carlos Alcaraz, says Alex Corretja
As Carlos Alcaraz prepares to begin his 2023 season after recovering from injuries, Alex Corretja suggests that the rising star should not bother about the World No. 1 ranking, which will just put unnecessary pressure on him.
The 19-year-old had a remarkable season in 2022, jumping from the 32nd position at the start to finish the year as the World No. 1. He lifted five singles titles, including ATP Masters events like the Miami Open and Madrid Open, with his biggest trophy coming at the 2022 US Open. He became the youngest-ever male player to achieve the top ranking.
While playing against Holger Rune in the quarterfinals of the Paris Masters last November, Alcaraz suffered an abdominal injury and retired mid-match. The same injury forced him to withdraw from the ATP Finals.
He was set to return to action at the 2023 Australian Open, but a right leg injury once again forced him to pull out. Novak Djokovic won the tournament and pushed the Spaniard to the second position.
Speaking to Express Sport, former World No. 2 Corretja urged Alcaraz not to lose sleep over getting back to the top spot, saying that he was too young for pressure like that.
"I don't think he should be obsessed with the number one in the world," Corretja said. "I don't think his goal right now should be to defend that position because otherwise, it would mean something else. Not only a pressure, but also an additional weight on your shoulders that you don't need so young, at that age."
Carlos Alcaraz will begin his 2023 season by playing at the ATP 250 Argentina Open in Buenos Aires for the first time in his career. The tournament will be played from February 13-19.
He will then turn his attention to defending his title at the ATP 500 Rio Open in Brazil, which will be played from February 20-26. His third tournament of the month will be the ATP 500 Mexican Open in Acapulco, beginning on February 27.
Carlos Alcaraz was not worried about losing the No. 1 spot
Speaking at an event during the second week of the 2023 Australian Open, Carlos Alcaraz stated that he wasn't worried about losing his No. 1 ranking to either Novak Djokovic or Stefanos Tsitsipas.
"I'm watching what Djokovic and Tsitsipas do, but it doesn't worry me. To take the number 1 number from me there, either of them has to be champion and if it happens, it will be because the one who achieves it will deserve it more than me," he said.