Mutua Madrid Open, Madrid, Spain, 2022 - Masters 1000

[MargaretMcAleer]

Even though I am not a fan of Sasha he does have a good point with the scheduling at Madrid,
Two days ago he went to bed at 4.30am,yesterday he went to bed at 5.20am and to get up to play the final.
Feli and team really have to have better scheduling in Madrid 2023.

 

[rafanoy1992]

Even though I am not a fan of Sasha he does have a good point with the scheduling at Madrid,
Two days ago he went to bed at 4.30am,yesterday he went to bed at 5.20am and to get up to play the final.
Feli and team really have to have better scheduling in Madrid 2023.

That was the thing I was alluding to yesterday, Margaret.

I understand that in Europe there’s a siesta time, but starting the 1st match at 4 pm local time is late especially if there will be three matches scheduled in the same stadium.

I also understand that Tennis is entertainment, but the organizers need to be fair to the players.

If they do want to start at 4 pm local time, then just schedule two matches in center court and move the other one at the next largest court. Therefore, the last scheduled match doesn’t get the very short end of the stick.

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

That was the thing I was alluding to yesterday, Margaret.

I understand that in Europe there’s a siesta time, but starting the 1st match at 4 pm local time is late especially if there will be three matches scheduled in the same stadium.

I also understand that Tennis is entertainment, but the organizers need to be fair to the players.

If they do want to start at 4 pm local time, then just schedule two matches in center court and move the other one at the next largest court. Therefore, the last scheduled match doesn’t get the very short end of the stick.

The last scheduled match should have been the women. They can afford that late start as it is a final.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I have posted this news on the new Rome post for the men

Alcaraz has withdrawn from Rome, personally I think it is a wise decision to have a break before RG

 

[Kieran]

I have posted this news on the new Rome post for the men

Alcarax has withdrawn from Rome, personally I think it is a wise decision to have a break before RG

Very sensible. He’s gotten great pre-Paris work in and maintaining his appetite is crucial. I agree with @Jelenafan on the previous page too - it’s too soon to make him favourite (that’s Rafa until he loses) but nobody will be surprised if Carlos wins Paris now. He’s definitely the greatest teenager since Rafa, and if he makes the second week in Paris, nobody will want to face him..

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Very sensible. He’s gotten great pre-Paris work in and maintaining his appetite is crucial. I agree with @Jelenafan on the previous page too - it’s too soon to make him favourite (that’s Rafa until he loses) but nobody will be surprised if Carlos wins Paris now. He’s definitely the greatest teenager since Rafa, and if he makes the second week in Paris, nobody will want to face him..

I think rest is a wise decision,he had that tumble against Rafa and already had his ankle taped, so some rest is needed,also I feel he was over playing.before RG.

 

[Kieran]

Now one thing I noticed is that Carlos bit the trophy, a la Rafa. He’ll grow out of that. His only similarities with Rafa are that he’s Spanish and he fights hard on court. He’s intense. But he’ll develop his own style and personality. Already he’s making his own achievements that set him apart from being called the Next Rafa. He’s the first Carlito, and that’ll be special enough, I reckon…

 

[the AntiPusher]

Now one thing I noticed is that Carlos bit the trophy, a la Rafa. He’ll grow out of that. His only similarities with Rafa are that he’s Spanish and he fights hard on court. He’s intense. But he’ll develop his own style and personality. Already he’s making his own achievements that set him apart from being called the Next Rafa. He’s the first Carlito, and that’ll be special enough, I reckon…

He really moves and hits likes Novak ..but he is stronger than he was at this point in his career.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Now one thing I noticed is that Carlos bit the trophy, a la Rafa. He’ll grow out of that. His only similarities with Rafa are that he’s Spanish and he fights hard on court. He’s intense. But he’ll develop his own style and personality. Already he’s making his own achievements that set him apart from being called the Next Rafa. He’s the first Carlito, and that’ll be special enough, I reckon…

You noticed that too...Hmmm...biting the trophy
Before people crown him the next Rafa I did post Rafa's titles and achievements on the previous at shy of being 20...
Alcaraz has a way to go to match Rafa's achievements at age 19
I dont like comparing tennis players for starters
I will just sit back and enjoy Alcaraz as Alcaraz .............not the next Rafa or Baby Rafa.

 

[Kieran]

You noticed that too...Hmmm...biting the trophy
Before people crown him the next Rafa I did post Rafa's titles and achievements on the previous at shy of being 20...
Alcaraz has a way to go to match Rafa's achievements at age 19
I dont like comparing tennis players for starters
I will just sit back and enjoy Alcaraz as Alcaraz .............not the next Rafa or Baby Rafa.

Calling him Baby Rafa reminds me of the players who were called Baby Fed - the only trophy they nibbled on as adult players was their mammy’s teat. Those babies remained in diapers. Carlos is already way ahead of them…

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Calling him Baby Rafa reminds me of the players who were called Baby Fed - the only trophy they nibbled on as adult players was their mammy’s teat. Those babies remained in diapers. Carlos is already way ahead of them…

Carlos is into grown up pants lol!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Reason for withdrawal from Alcaraz in Rome ( as I was expecting) was his ankle and feet.

 

[Jelenafan]

He really moves and hits likes Novak ..but he is stronger than he was at this point in his career.

His FH to me is more Federesque, the BH i grant you is in the Novak mode.

Where he stands out from the big 3 ( though closer to Rafa) is how he uses ofensively the dropshot in his arsenal much more than they did so early in their career. The setup is nigh perfect so many times.

 

[Moxie]

Now one thing I noticed is that Carlos bit the trophy, a la Rafa. He’ll grow out of that. His only similarities with Rafa are that he’s Spanish and he fights hard on court. He’s intense. But he’ll develop his own style and personality. Already he’s making his own achievements that set him apart from being called the Next Rafa. He’s the first Carlito, and that’ll be special enough, I reckon…

Well, he kissed it , then he bit it. It's a nice homage to Rafa. I don't hear so many calling him "Baby Rafa," as some have said above, but there are a lot of similarities right now, and that is the Great Teenager thing, too. But comparisons are being made to Novak, too, and Roger. Nice company. That's because everyone is full-on believing he's the real deal, and he sure seems to be. I heard him called a "Supernova" today on TC, and that he is. That is a word that Wertheim used for Rafa in his book on the 2008 Wimbledon/Roger&Rafa Rivalry. He said a supernova crossed Toni Nadal's path to coach, and it was his own nephew. Also, we haven't seen someone rise so young and fast as to go into RG as something like a co-favorite. Whether we agree or not, there are really only 3 in the big discussion right now. Tsitsipas...last year's finalist? Not even close. Rome will tell us more about where Rafa and Novak are, physically and, in Novak's case, mentally. I agree with everyone that it's smart for Charlie to pull out. Roddick said today he should ride the momentum, but as much as he should rest the body, I think he also needs to rest the mind. A LOT has happened to him in the past few weeks. He just ran through a huge gauntlet in the past 3 days and came out on top. He needs a break, so says everyone here.

 

[Moxie]

His FH to me is more Federesque, the BH i grant you is in the Novak mode.

Where he stands out from the big 3 ( though closer to Rafa) is how he uses ofensively the dropshot in his arsenal much more than they did so early in their career. The setup is nigh perfect so many times.

Commentators on TC today mentioned that he seems evenly successful with the dropper both on FH and BH wings, which they were kvelling over, and which, as you say, he uses offensively and not at all as a bail-out shot.

 

[rafanoy1992]

I do not really mind whether or not he takes a break. While I do think it is smart for Alcaraz to take a break (both physically and mentally), it would have been nice for him to play Rome just to see ride the momentum just a little bit.

But, he is winning a lot matches lately, so he has earned the right to get a break from tennis.

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

I don’t think anyone has unrealistic expectations from Carlos. 2 Masters 1000 titles within a very short span, the natural progression is one better and getting a slam.

It’s smart of him to take a break before RG as everyone is talking, and he has time to put it all in perspective, rest, and not get ahead of himself.

It will be easier said than done as Novak is starting to find some form again and Nadal is on clay. They are the masters at the best of 5.

However, age still strikes, and I suspect we will at some point see Novak and Rafa too succumb to what Serena and Roger have the ebbs and flows of consistent play.

 

[Moxie]

I don’t think anyone has unrealistic expectations from Carlos. 2 Masters 1000 titles within a very short span, the natural progression is one better and getting a slam.

It’s smart of him to take a break before RG as everyone is talking, and he has time to put it all in perspective, rest, and not get ahead of himself.

It will be easier said than done as Novak is starting to find some form again and Nadal is on clay. They are the masters at the best of 5.

However, age still strikes, and I suspect we will at some point see Novak and Rafa too succumb to what Serena and Roger have the ebbs and flows of consistent play.

Age is coming for them. Novak turns 35 in just days, I think, and Rafa will be 36 by the end of RG, (hopefully hoisting the trophy as another birthday present to himself. ) If it's Carlitos, I won't mind, but I'm thinking more like USO or next year's AO, if he gets one while still a teenager.

I think Alcaraz has a good head, a lot of maturity, a good team and family around him, and he is very lucky in Juan Carlos Ferrero. (And probably vice-versa, down the road.)

 

[rafanoy1992]

I don’t think anyone has unrealistic expectations from Carlos. 2 Masters 1000 titles within a very short span, the natural progression is one better and getting a slam.

It’s smart of him to take a break before RG as everyone is talking, and he has time to put it all in perspective, rest, and not get ahead of himself.

It will be easier said than done as Novak is starting to find some form again and Nadal is on clay. They are the masters at the best of 5.

However, age still strikes, and I suspect we will at some point see Novak and Rafa too succumb to what Serena and Roger have the ebbs and flows of consistent play.

It is why I want Nadal to win 2022 RG first before Alcaraz wins his 1st GS. The reason I say this is because there's a realistic chance that 2022 RG will be Nadal's last GS title (assuming he wins of course).

Now, he can still win the other three slams, of course, but, like you say, at some point age will strike Nadal and therefore it will be extremely hard for him to win slams.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Age is coming for them. Novak turns 35 in just days, I think, and Rafa will be 36 by the end of RG, (hopefully hoisting the trophy as another birthday present to himself. ) If it's Carlitos, I won't mind, but I'm thinking more like USO or next year's AO, if he gets one while still a teenager.

I think Alcaraz has a good head, a lot of maturity, a good team and family around him, and he is very lucky in Juan Carlos Ferrero. (And probably vice-versa, down the road.)

I did read that down the track JCF will not be his head coach as he has a young family and does not want to be a full time coach, so the team will be looking for say a head coach to take over at some point, though JCF said at present, Alcaraz is young on the tour and he will stay for awhile as head coach