French Open champion Carlos Alcaraz eager to take clay form into tennis’ grass season

LONDON – French Open champion Carlos Alcaraz has set his sights on more grass-court tennis success after his first title on the clay at Roland Garros.

The 21-year-old became the youngest man to win Major titles on all three surfaces – grass, hard court and clay – with a five-set victory over Alexander Zverev in Paris on June 8.

But now his attention has turned to yet more grass-court titles, with the Spaniard looking to repeat his London double of 2023, when victory at Queen’s Club was followed by a maiden Wimbledon triumph.

Last week was a memorable one for Alcaraz, with his French Open success followed by the news he is set to partner 14-time Roland Garros king Rafael Nadal at the Paris Olympics.

“I had a few days off, I went to Ibiza with a group of friends. I had fun, I enjoyed my time,” Alcaraz said at Queen’s on June 16.

“Obviously Roland Garros was a fantastic two weeks for me, a dream come true to lift the trophy but right now, my mind must be here on the grass.

“To be ready as soon as I can to play good tennis here at Queen’s and obviously to get ready for Wimbledon.

“Right now, my focus is on the grass season, the two tournaments and after that my mind will be to be ready on clay again and playing my best tennis at the Olympic Games.

“I feel really, really happy to play doubles in the Olympics and with an idol like Rafa. It is a unique moment for me but of course, I am very happy about it. Let’s see how it’s going to be but it’s going to be a great time.

“Honestly, I feel he is going to teach me how to deal with everything. I am the young guy who needs to grow up as a player, to grow up as a person as well.”

He added: “Of course it’s going to be my first Olympic Games. Everything is new for me, so I hope to learn a lot from him.”

Alcaraz begins his Queen’s Club campaign against Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo on June 18.

While Alcaraz and Nadal will be in Paris, two-time gold medallist Andy Murray said on June 16 he was “not 100 per cent sure” he will play at the Olympics despite being selected just hours earlier for his fifth Games.

Murray, who has said he intends to retire later in 2024, was granted an International Tennis Federation (ITF) place to compete at the Games, despite his lowly singles ranking of 129 because he is a former Grand Slam winner and Olympic champion.

Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski will represent Team GB in the men’s doubles and the pairing of Murray and Dan Evans have been nominated for an additional space in that competition, which will be determined by the ITF – the governing body of world tennis who run the tournament – on June 25.

Murray, 37, said his participation at the Games was partly dependent on whether he was involved in the doubles, as well as singles, competition.

“I am not 100 per cent sure,” he told reporters at Queen’s Club, while dressed in a Team GB tracksuit.

“It depends a little bit physically how I am doing. How the next few weeks go as well. Yeah, my plan just now is to play, but it is not straightforward. I’ll find out in the next 10 days or so on the doubles and what’s going to happen there. Hopefully me and Evo get the chance to play.”

Murray did, however, say it would be a fitting end to his career if he bowed out at Wimbledon or the Paris Olympics.

“Probably if I was going to finish my career, I would rather finish at Wimbledon or an Olympic Games – to me that would probably be more fitting,” Murray, who won gold at London 2012 and Rio 2016, told BBC Sport.

“I’ve had amazing experiences and memories from Wimbledon, but also being part of British Olympics teams. To get a chance to compete at a fifth one is a reason to stay motivated and continue playing.”

But women’s world No. 3 Aryna Sabalenka will definitely not play at the Olympics as she wants to focus on her health and prepare for the hard-court tournaments, the twice Grand Slam champion said on June 17.

“Especially with all the struggles I’ve been struggling with the last months, I feel I have to take care of my health,” she said at the Berlin Ladies Open. “It’s too much for the scheduling and I made the decision to take care of my health. I prefer to have a little rest to make sure physically and health-wise I’m ready for the hard courts.” AFP, REUTERS