Carlos Alcaraz’s meteoric rise has taken the world of tennis by storm with many of his peers hailing the youngster. But what is it exactly that makes it so difficult to play against him?
Cameron Norrie has locked horns with the Spaniard on three previous occasions on the Tour and lost all of them. Their first meeting was in the first round of last year’s US Open where the world No.11 lost in straight sets. Norrie was then defeated by the teeanger at Indian Wells and the Marid Open earlier this season.
“I’m especially really happy with my performance last week (in Madrid), playing close with one of the best players, if not the best player, in the world at the moment,” Norrie told reporters in Rome in reference to Alcaraz. “Exactly the matches I need. I feel like I have a good game on the clay.”
Alcaraz has already achieved various milestones in 2022 and is the first player on the ATP Tour to have won four titles. He is the youngest player in history to win an ATP 500 event since the series began, the youngest player to break into the world’s top 10 since Rafael Nadal did so back in 2005 and he currently has a seven-match winning streak when it comes to playing top 10 opposition.
Norrie believes one of the most striking aspects of Alcaraz’s game is the diversity in his shot-making ability. Ranging from heavy-hitting from the baseline to producing delicate dropshot’s.
“I think what makes him tricky, a lot of the time when he’s got the short ball or the point where he can finish it, he’s got so many options. He’s got the dropshot. He’s executing that unbelievably well. He also has a big forehand. He can go anywhere, angle, line. You have to be ready for anything,” Norrie commented.
“He is always picking the right shots and making very good decisions in the bigger moments. Very complete game already. He also has the maturity and confidence to back it up in those big moments, in those pressure situations on those courts with everyone kind of talking about him, saying he’s the next Nadal, getting all these big comparisons.”
Continuing his analysis of the world No.6, 26-year-old Norrie is also impressed by his movement and stamina during matches for somebody at such a young age. Alcaraz currently has a win-loss record of 28-3 so far this year compared to the Brit who is 20-11 (including Norrie’s first round win in Rome).
“The kid gets to everything. He’s not only getting there, he’s doing something with it. His hand skills on the run, out the corners, is incredibly impressive to play against him. He’s always running for any ball. He’s never giving up on any ball,” he continued.
“For someone who just turned 19, what he did in Barcelona as well, playing back-to-back matches, playing 3 hours 40 with de Minaur, coming out and chopping Carreno (Pablo Carreno Busta) in the final, doing that and having that physicality at that age is impressive.’
“Over and beyond that, he’s a very nice guy. He’s the nicest kid. He’s saying hi to everyone. Super respectful, so that’s also good to see.”
Alcaraz has decided to pull out of this week’s Italian Open. Meanwhile, Norrie is seeded ninth in the draw and will play Marin Cilic in the second round on Wednesday.
