Despite
Carlos Alcaraz not playing any warm-up tournaments for the Australian Open, there is no stopping the Spaniard when it comes to exhibitions with the Wimbledon champion set to play in one just over a day after playing Novak Djokovic in Riyadh.
Alcaraz took down the Serbian kingpin 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 in Saudi Arabia and while Djokovic like many will now head to Australia to prepare for the United Cup where he will play in the New Year in his only warm-up as he aims to anchor Serbia to glory which they couldn't do in the Davis Cup, it is back home for 'Carlitos'.
Race around the World for Carlitos
But as the phrase goes, there's no rest for the wicked and for Alcaraz, he will play hours after he touches down back home in Murcia. He will take on Roberto Bautista Agut in an exhibition match on December 28.
Initially pencilled in for around 6:30pm Spanish time, this was later corrected to around 8:30pm local time meaning that the race around the world has added two extra hours on. Fans in the comments were scathing though saying that there shouldn't be any excuses when he is out of gas in Melbourne and another said in response to questioning on how he will get from Riyadh to Murcia in time that he doesn't have to wait in queues to get on planes or go through customs so he will be fine.
Either way, it is a huge undertaking from Alcaraz, but perhaps necessary given his lack of game time between now and mid January with the Spaniard instead deciding to play the post Australian South American swing instead on Clay.