Alcaraz is recovering during practice this Friday at Wimbledon. Clive Brunskill (Getty Images)
The motto is clear: prudence, caution, prevention. Minimize all risks. Therefore, Carlos Alcaraz, again number one after his recent triumph at Queen’s, only entered the training track this Friday, the day the Wimbledon organization made the draw of the tables and the Spaniard set foot on the turf for the first time in All England Tennis Club gathers. He did it in the morning, already knowing what situation he’ll have to deal with in the next two weeks, paying particular attention to the musculature that had warned him a few days ago at Queen’s that it should be closely monitored. Against this background, all due diligence is negligible.
Alcaraz is there, having won his first trophy on grass, making this attack on the great Britons with as much ambition as moderation. The adductor muscle (back of the right thigh) gave him problems in last Sunday’s final against Australia’s Alex de Miñaur and at the same time he has reiterated the idea of relieving him as much as possible during the past week of preparation. Instead of jumping straight onto the green to get started like Novak Djokovic did himself, the Murcian trained four days before the draw on the field specially designed for aerobic exercise and working with the physios.
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Aware that the technical acclimatization period at Queen’s was completed with excellent results, Alcaraz has refined his chassis in this warm-up area under the extensive supervision of his physiotherapist Juanjo Moreno, who landed in London on Monday alongside the coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero. Previously, it was Juanjo Lledó, fitness trainer, who put particular emphasis on adapting to the complex nature of the lawn, which requires very specific mechanisms. Especially when it comes to lower body maneuvers: short stride, lots of explosiveness, and almost constant leg flexion. That means a lot of stress on the legs.
Alcaraz, after the session is over. Steven Paston (AP)
Thought of pampering his body, the El Palmar man (20 years old) gave up the doubles appearance he originally planned at the Hurlingham exhibition and did not compete against Holger Rune or Dominic Thiem, who he is up against would switch off a priori. Wednesday or this Friday. Yes, that’s where Djokovic was put to the test, who once again opted to go straight to Wimbledon without an official rehearsal but wanted to make a splash (in his favor) with Frances Tiafoe at least in the pre-season pulse. Rather than playing, Alcaraz – which is just a five-minute walk from the All England Tennis Club – has preferred to combine fitness with rest and took advantage of Tuesday to play golf with Ferrero. As it was in Paris, where it was dosed to avoid damage, it will keep the momentum going in London.
Djokovic, only in the final
The El Palmar man also followed the advice of his personal doctor Juanjo López and began loosening his arm again four days after making his debut in the English major, which will be played against veteran Jeremy Chardy on Tuesday. In principle, a friendly start – the Frenchman, 36 and 534th in the world with a protected ranking – is preceded by a theoretically winding route suggesting crosses with Arthur Rinderknech – the only one to have stolen a set from him Queen’s – and Chilean Nicolás Jarry -powerful server- before the start of the corners. He could meet the demanding De Miñaur in the round of 16 and from there potential threats like the up-and-coming Rune or Daniil Medvedev appear before the dream landing in the final. In any case, Wimbledon is a box full of surprises; even more in the first week.
On the other side of the field, Djokovic has already tested the thick grass in the middle and continues to sharpen up in his quest for his eighth title in London that would put him on par with the great Roger Federer. The 36-year-old Serb and winner of this season in Australia and Roland Garros will make his debut against Pedro Cachín (67) on Monday and on his horizon he sees the likes of American Brandon Nakashima (51), Argentinian Tomás Martín Etcheverry (32. ). ), the Italian Lorenzo Musetti (15th), the Russian Andrey Rublev (7th) or the Norwegian Casper Ruud (4th). He wasn’t able to meet Alcaraz until the 16th in the final.
BADOSA ARRIVES ON TIME
AC | Madrid
Despite the predicted duration of the defeat was around eight to 12 weeks, Paula Badosa eventually reached the final draw of the tournament and will therefore take part in her first Major this year after missing the Australian Open and Roland Garros due to various physical problems.
The 25-year-old Spaniard, who is 35th in the WTA list, suffered a fractured vertebra in a competition in Rome at the end of May but was given the green light to compete in Wimbledon and will face American Alison Riske (140th) on Tuesday ).
In addition to her, five other Spanish representatives are represented among the women and seven are registered among the men. These are the pairings:
Paula Badosa-Allyson Riske.
Sara Sorribes-Martina Trevisan.
Cristina Bucsa-Kamilla Rakhimova.
Rebekka Mazarova– Mayar Sheriff.
Nuria Parrizas– Aliaksandra Sasnovich.
Jessica Bouzas-Anhelina Kalinina.
Carlos Alcaráz– Jeremy Chardy.
Roberto Bautista– Roman Safiullin.
Alexander Davidovich– Arthur Phils.
Roberto Carballes-Matteo Arnaldi.
Jaume Munar-John Isner.
Albert Ramos-Hubert Hurkacz.
Bernabe Zapata-Tomas Martin Etcheverry.
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