Carlos Alcaraz insists he is not thinking too much about Rafael Nadal’s all-time Grand Slam record as for now he just wants to focus on winning his second Major. Alcaraz, 19, won his first Grand Slam title after beating Casper Ruud in the US Open final.
Alcaraz has established himself as the most promising and talented player from the younger generation. Some think that Alcaraz has the potential to match or beat the Grand Slam records of Nadal, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
Nadal owns a record 22 Grand Slams, Djokovic has 21 Majors, while Federer sits at 20. “I’ll always be proud when Rafa wins Grand Slams and obviously if I lose at a Grand Slam, I’ll always be supporting a Spaniard.
I’ve won one, I don’t feel closer, I’ve got 21 to go. For now, I’m going to think about trying to get the second, which very few people have managed, that’s my goal,” Alcaraz told the ATP website.
Alcaraz on working with a sports psychologist
Alcaraz is just 19, but his mental strength is already very impressive. Now, Alcaraz says his sports psychologist is the one that deserves credit for that. “I’ve been working with a psychologist for two or three seasons, with Isabel Balaguer.
She’s a great professional, one of the main reasons I am able to be No. 1 in the world today. I’ve improved so much thanks to her. Having a mental coach is important as tennis is demanding week after week and during a whole year you have to be fresh mentally, you have to cope with the pressure, with everyone watching you and it’s important to be able to handle that.
Without a psychologist, I wouldn’t say it’s impossible because nothing is, but it would be far more difficult,” Alcaraz said. In the US Open quarterfinal, Alcaraz saved a match point to beat Jannik Sinner. That match was the perfect example of how strong Alcaraz mentally is.
