Alcaraz reportedly has no plans to play any warm-up tournaments in run-up to Australian Open in 2024

Carlos Alcaraz appears to have carefully planned his schedule to prepare for the 2024 Australian Open and arrive at his best level.

Currently ranked as World No. 2, he is participating in the Shanghai Open, where he has already advanced to the round of 16 after a successful debut against Yannick Hanfman, securing a 6-4, 6-3 victory. This is the only tournament he will play in Asia, as he will be heading to the Basel Open in three weeks.

Throughout the year, Alcaraz has faced the demanding challenges of the ATP Tour, prioritizing major tournaments like Masters 1000 and Grand Slams while mostly avoiding lower-category events. Recognizing the importance of managing his schedule wisely, Alcaraz has already planned his tournament appearances leading up to the first Grand Slam of next year.

It's worth noting that last year, Alcaraz ended the season with physical difficulties that prevented him from participating in the ATP Finals and caused him to miss the Australian Open due to physical issues. He began his season only at the Argentina Open, three weeks after the conclusion of the first Grand Slam.

This time, Alcaraz wants to avoid physical setbacks and has chosen to relax his schedule to prepare in the best possible way. He will start his vacation after the conclusion of the Finals, which are scheduled to take place between November 12 and 19, depending on how far he advances.

Alcaraz will briefly interrupt his vacation to travel to Mexico and face Tommy Paul in an exhibition match on November 29. Afterward, he will not compete until December 8, when he will begin his preseason training with his coaching team, led by Juan Carlos Ferrero.

According to the Spanish newspaper Marca, Alcaraz has decided not to participate in any of the preparatory tournaments for the Australian Open. This means he will not be competing in Hong Kong, Adelaide, Brisbane, Auckland, or the United Cup team event. Instead, he will only play in an exhibition match in Victoria, Australia, one week before the Australian Open begins.

At present, Alcaraz is focused on the Masters 1000 Shanghai Open and will face the World No. 18, 21-year-old Lorenzo Musetti, in the quarterfinals.