Carlos Alcaraz plays down Wimbledon hopes, 'I don’t think this year it’s going to be my surface'
- Sean Fisher
- 24 June 2022
Carlos Alcaraz may have enjoyed a superb breakthrough season on clay, but the talented Spaniard is unsure about his chances of replicating the success on grass.
Carlos Alcaraz has established himself as one of tennis' great prospects this year, with the 19-year-old Spaniard having already won four ATP titles.
But of those four titles, three have come on clay, so while Alcaraz is looking forward to just his second ever trip to SW19, he was keen to play down his hopes of competing for the Grand Slam title.
A quarter-final exit at the French Open last month matched his best ever Grand Slam finish, and elbow injuries have further slowed his preparation for Wimbledon next week.
Originally, Alcaraz planned to head to Queen's club this month, but his elbow forced him to withdraw, and he had to wait to play his first match on grass until the exhibition Giorgio Armani Tennis Classic at the Hurlingham Club on Thursday.
We're still working hard! 🌱 I need to improve and I'll give 100% to do it! 🤜🏻🤛🏻 pic.twitter.com/u1WLuWV723
— Carlos Alcaraz (@carlosalcaraz) June 23, 2022
Even then, Alcaraz' elbow could be seen heavily strapped up, and he ended up being beaten 6-4 6-2 by powerful American Frances Tiafoe.
With a lack of match preparation on grass, paired with an ongoing injury issue, it's not been the ideal lead up to a Grand Slam for Alcaraz, but he did provide a positive update on his fitness this week.
"It's just for precaution. A couple of weeks ago I had the problems, I couldn't train well. I trained a couple of times at Wimbledon without pain, here I felt well.
"The first match on grass is never easy but I had fun out there. Of course I have more training ahead, a match on Saturday here as well to get ready and to get 100 per cent for Wimbledon."
Good night! 🌙💥💚
— Carlos Alcaraz (@carlosalcaraz) June 21, 2022
📸 @Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/mMFRKe9QtC
As a result of his success this year, Alcaraz heads to Wimbledon as the tournament's fifth seed. But with grass not being his preferred surface, he quickly played down his chances of winning.
"I hope so but I don't think this year it's going to be my surface. For sure in the future I can play pretty good on this surface if I play tournaments before Wimbledon and I think I will feel comfortable playing on this surface."
Alcaraz found out on Friday morning that he'll face Germany's Jan-Lennard Struff in the opening round of the tournament.
