Carlos Alcaraz started the year with the goal of finishing in the top 15 but the Spaniard achieved far more than that.
After several months of superb player Alcaraz will be seeded 2nd at a Masters 1000 event in Montreal. The Spaniard got that chance due to several players missing the event (Nadal, Zverev) but he was also able to break into the top 10 on his own merit thanks to excellent play. He actually has a fairly decent shot and reaching number one as well which is incredible considering his goals before the season.
Speaking ahead of Montreal Alcaraz admitted he grew up fast this year and to be in this position is amazing:
"I grew up so fast. To be the second seed at a Masters 1000 is amazing and I didn’t expect this at the beginning of the year. Honestly, I still can’t believe it right now. It is something I wanted at the start of the year, when I was aiming to be at the top and be one of the favourites to win one of the most important tournaments.”
The Spaniard last played in Umag where he lost in the final and he lost in the final of Hamburg the previous week as well. Now he turns his attention to hard courts and it's a tricky change:
"It is tough to change surfaces quickly. In two months, I have played on three surfaces and it is tough. But I consider myself a player who adjusts to a new surface very fast. The transition from clay to hard is tough, but I did specific work to adjust to hardcourt and I have come here a lot of days before to get used to this court. [I have been] playing points and sets with the best players."