Fresh fade, fresh impetus: Carlos Alcaraz set to start South American Clay Court swing with new look
ATPSaturday, 10 February 2024 at 21:30
Carlos
Alcaraz makes a comeback at the 2024 Argentina Open and gears up for the
South American clay court swing with a fresh new look. The World No. 2 got a
haircut while in Murcia, preparing for his journey to South America for the
second consecutive year, where he'll participate in two tournaments before the
Sunshine Double.
The Spanish
sensation faces the challenge of defending his title in Argentina and
subsequently the final at the Rio Open. Alcaraz arrives as the overwhelming favourite
in South America, as only a few top players opt for clay competitions before
the U.S. hard court tournaments in Indian Wells and the Miami Open.
Following
his quarterfinal exit at the Australian Open against Alexander Zverev, the
two-time Grand Slam champion traveled to his hometown of Murcia for a few weeks
to resume training at the Juan Carlos Ferrero Academy. Alcaraz took advantage
of the trip for a haircut with his regular barber.
Carlitos
shared a photo that his barber posted on Instagram stories, showcasing Alcaraz
with a more polished and elegant style for his journey to South America:
Challenges in South America:
The World
No. 2 is the defending champion of the ATP 250 Buenos Aires Open, scheduled to
take place between February 12-18. Last year, he clinched the title in only his
first tournament of the year after recovering from an injury, defeating British
player Cameron Norrie in the final with a score of 6-3, 7-5.
During the
week of February 19-25, he will be in Brazil for the ATP 500 Rio Open, where he
reached the final in 2023 but fell short against Norrie. Norrie sought revenge
and came from a set down to secure a victory with a scoreline of 5-7, 6-4, 7-5.
Both Buenos
Aires and Rio will feature the same top 8 seeded players, with Alcaraz (No. 2)
and Cam Norrie (No. 20) leading the pack. The next highest-ranked players in
the tournament will be the current leaders of South American tennis: Chilean
Nicolas Jarry (No. 21) and the Argentine trio of Francisco Cerundolo (No. 22),
Tomas Etcheverry (No. 27), and Sebastian Baez (No. 30).
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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