Alcaraz is Starting to Grow on Me

[kayapit]

Although not full blown hater, I've been an anti-Alcaraz guy so far. After Friday's FO semi vs Novak, for the first time I thought "Ya know, I think maybe that guy's all right." I'm generally an anti-hype guy, so if someone's getting pumped I'm likely to be skeptical, so there's that. As for watching his matches I really found the excessive celebration annoying, and of course the grunting. On Friday, midway through the first set I noticed Carlos wasn't fist pumping every single won point. In fact, multiple times I saw him finish the point and turn and head back to the baseline in a workman like manner, serious and determined like without any fuss. I like that. Next I noticed how joyful he is, smiling and positive even on points well played but lost. That's great to see, like earnestly congratulating your opponent after a loss. Finally, the shot making (in that first set) was beyond incredible. Just amazing. So I'm not ready to sign up to the Carlito fan club, but I'm open minded and looking forward to seeing more Carlos and hopefully enjoying it. Probably I need to watch some of his interviews etc and learn more about him as a person. I've been similarly hard on Holger Rune this year, and I don't see that changing by a good stretch, but hopefully Carlos keeps growing on me. Anybody still on the #ABC bus? For reference I'm pro Nole and have been from the start, was in full man love with Roger throughout his run, and respect the hell out of Rafa but never rooted for him over RF/ND.

 

[L4S10s]

yeah because Novak beat him

 

[Lleytonstation]

Still looks 172cm to me.

But maybe he will grow. Who knows.

 

[tennis3]

Alcaraz is Starting to Grow on Me​

Just head down to the clinic, get a shot, and get that taken care of

 

[kevin qmto]

Mal.

 

[BeatlesFan]

I've been similarly hard on Holger Rune this year, and I don't see that changing by a good stretch.

Repent now and see the error of your ways. How could Holger be unworthy when he loves his mom so much?

 

[Lleytonstation]

Repent now and see the error of your ways. How could Holger be unworthy when he loves his mom so much?

Not a real top 10

 

[The Blond Blur]

Still looks 172cm to me.

But maybe he will grow. Who knows.

I stopped reading at: “Alcaraz is Starting to Grow”

 

[DSH]

Still looks 172cm to me.

But maybe he will grow. Who knows.

Let's hope his cramps are tinier the next time he faces Djokovic in a GS tournament.

 

[Lleytonstation]

I stopped reading at: “Alcaraz is Starting to Grow”

Yeah, poor choice of words for sure

 

[ND-13]

My rating of Alcaraz went down after he publicly admits nervous tension .

Why would you want to say that in a press conference ?? Idiot

 

[sportsfan1]

My rating of Alcaraz went down after he publicly admits nervous tension .

Why would you want to say that in a press conference ?? Idiot

At this point, rune and Medvedev have to be rated higher than raz when facing Djokovic.

 

[junior74]

How berry ruud

 

[Jonesy]

At this point, rune and Medvedev have to be rated higher than raz when facing Djokovic.

Rune also cramped hard in his only slam match against Djokovic.

 

[TheNachoMan]

I like him more than a lot of the other younger players but I’d still root for my childhood heroes over him. Yes, that includes RAFA.

 

[kayapit]

Still looks 172cm to me.

But maybe he will grow. Who knows.

Why does his being short make him unlikable or unwatchable? Someone might even say that he should get props for performing the way he does with a height disadvantage. IDK, when I watch him play I don't find myself thinking about his height, so it's a non-issue for.me.

 

[MichaelNadal]

Not after the cramps lol BYE

 

[kayapit]

At this point, rune and Medvedev have to be rated higher than raz when facing Djokovic.

Agree that they are all closer than people have been thinking, but for the next big match I'd rather have Novak facing Med/Rune than Carlos.

 

[Lleytonstation]

Not after the cramps lol BYE

I warned you

 

[kayapit]

I like him more than a lot of the other younger players but I’d still root for my childhood heroes over him. Yes, that includes RAFA.

Agassi Alcaraz slam final would be sure fun to watch.

 

[Picmun]

Although not full blown hater, I've been an anti-Alcaraz guy so far. After Friday's FO semi vs Novak, for the first time I thought "Ya know, I think maybe that guy's all right." I'm generally an anti-hype guy, so if someone's getting pumped I'm likely to be skeptical, so there's that. As for watching his matches I really found the excessive celebration annoying, and of course the grunting. On Friday, midway through the first set I noticed Carlos wasn't fist pumping every single won point. In fact, multiple times I saw him finish the point and turn and head back to the baseline in a workman like manner, serious and determined like without any fuss. I like that. Next I noticed how joyful he is, smiling and positive even on points well played but lost. That's great to see, like earnestly congratulating your opponent after a loss. Finally, the shot making (in that first set) was beyond incredible. Just amazing. So I'm not ready to sign up to the Carlito fan club, but I'm open minded and looking forward to seeing more Carlos and hopefully enjoying it. Probably I need to watch some of his interviews etc and learn more about him as a person. I've been similarly hard on Holger Rune this year, and I don't see that changing by a good stretch, but hopefully Carlos keeps growing on me. Anybody still on the #ABC bus? For reference I'm pro Nole and have been from the start, was in full man love with Roger throughout his run, and respect the hell out of Rafa but never rooted for him over RF/ND.

Why because he's loser ?

 

[ChrisRF]

About him I always only disliked the constant fist pumping. That's really annoying.

Well, I disliked the hype as well, but what can he do about that? That isn't his fault. It was way over the top, and for those who initiated it I found it quite nice when he lost a match, but I wouldn't explicitly root against someone only because I don't like the hype other people start around him.

 

[mike danny]

About him I always only disliked the constant fist pumping. That's really annoying.

Well, I disliked the hype as well, but what can he do about that? That isn't his fault. It was way over the top, and for those who initiated it I found it quite nice when he lost a match, but I wouldn't explicitly root against someone only because I don't like the hype other people start around him.

At least the hype can die down now. Not worthy of it.

 

[Lleytonstation]

At least the hype can die down now. Not worthy of it.

Nah, the excuse train is still going strong. Just yesterday there was a thread about which tier of atg he is currently. Haha

 

[sometennisdot]

Idk. He's cool and all, seems fairly respectful. But there's just not anything that seems unique about him yet, he's just another two-handed backhand power hitter.

 

[TearTheRoofOff]

Still looks 172cm to me.

But maybe he will grow. Who knows.

Depends on how well planted he is in the kayapit.

 

[RelentlessAttack]

Idk. He's cool and all, seems fairly respectful. But there's just not anything that seems unique about him yet, he's just another two-handed backhand power hitter.

He’s got a more offensive and well rounded game than the rest of his counterparts. He’s a little small (from a service point of view) and needs to improve his tactics. Hopefully he will learn and improve from here and not get mentally derailed like Stef or Med after their losses to Djokodal.

You have to be challenged to be great, he improved after Zverev taught him a lesson last year and he needs to do the same now that Djokovic taught him one

 

[game..set..match]

he will never grow on me with that obnoxious grunting. that combined with the punchable looking face makes his enemy #1 as far as tennis goes.

 

[ronalditop]

Peniston is rising?

 

[Kiam]

Although not full blown hater, I've been an anti-Alcaraz guy so far. After Friday's FO semi vs Novak, for the first time I thought "Ya know, I think maybe that guy's all right." I'm generally an anti-hype guy, so if someone's getting pumped I'm likely to be skeptical, so there's that. As for watching his matches I really found the excessive celebration annoying, and of course the grunting. On Friday, midway through the first set I noticed Carlos wasn't fist pumping every single won point. In fact, multiple times I saw him finish the point and turn and head back to the baseline in a workman like manner, serious and determined like without any fuss. I like that. Next I noticed how joyful he is, smiling and positive even on points well played but lost. That's great to see, like earnestly congratulating your opponent after a loss. Finally, the shot making (in that first set) was beyond incredible. Just amazing. So I'm not ready to sign up to the Carlito fan club, but I'm open minded and looking forward to seeing more Carlos and hopefully enjoying it. Probably I need to watch some of his interviews etc and learn more about him as a person. I've been similarly hard on Holger Rune this year, and I don't see that changing by a good stretch, but hopefully Carlos keeps growing on me. Anybody still on the #ABC bus? For reference I'm pro Nole and have been from the start, was in full man love with Roger throughout his run, and respect the hell out of Rafa but never rooted for him over RF/ND.

He seems like a very genuine, humble, considerate your man. It's hard not to like him, but I usually root for the underdog, and that is usually not Carlos....

 

[Benf15harp]

I will root for him when he can see over the steering wheel

 

[Kiam]

He's 6 feet tall!

 

[NeutralFan]

Add more options,son!

 

[Alley]

Now? In his slump?

 

[FeroBango]

Now? In his slump?

Not as much as Rune has grown on me in this period to be fair.

 

[D.Nalby12]

Neutral. But since very beginning I am very convinced that he is next ATG in line.

 

[puppybutts]

his tennis is entertaining and he seems like a stand-up guy, but I can't stand how he delays his grunt only when returning serves or if he's in trouble. you can often see him watching his opponent as if to time his grunts

 

[Nate7-5]

My g/f is from Madrid so I'm required to support

 

[ChaelAZ]

I've been following him for the last years and always said there is that 'something' about him that will keep him in the top.

 

[Torben]

I think the most important thing with Alcaraz is how he’ll inspire young kids who want to play tennis . I’m sure he’s already had an impact on young kids who have seen him play and win, especially at Wimbledon.

He has an all court game because he had all the shots. The young kids see this and will want to play like him. They will want to be able to hit all the shots too. It’s an exciting brand of tennis and I think tennis as a sport will be the greatest benefactor in this.

We can all relate to this. You look at Borg. He had that heavy loopy forehand full of top spin and that incredible, for its time, two handed backhand. All the younger kids who saw him, imitated his strokes and style. You need look no further than the generation of two handed back hands that came after him.

 

[ADuck]

What a coincidence that you started liking Alcaraz after he lost to Novak. I'm guessing you stopped liking him again after Wimbledon.

 

[socallefty]

I think the most important thing with Alcaraz is how he’ll inspire young kids who want to play tennis .

Not just kids, even old guys like me. Every player at my club including me is hitting drop shots way more than usual.

 

[Julius Caesar]

Not just kids, even old guys like me. Every player at my club including me is hitting drop shots way more than usual.

Absolutely. I am hitting more dropshots than ever in my life too. Before Alcaraz it didnt even come to my mind as I was hitting from the baseline. Now I have found out that its a great weapon to disrupt the opponent’s pace.

 

[Kiam]

I think the most important thing with Alcaraz is how he’ll inspire young kids who want to play tennis . I’m sure he’s already had an impact on young kids who have seen him play and win, especially at Wimbledon.

He has an all court game because he had all the shots. The young kids see this and will want to play like him. They will want to be able to hit all the shots too. It’s an exciting brand of tennis and I think tennis as a sport will be the greatest benefactor in this.

We can all relate to this. You look at Borg. He had that heavy loopy forehand full of top spin and that incredible, for its time, two handed backhand. All the younger kids who saw him, imitated his strokes and style. You need look no further than the generation of two handed back hands that came after him.

There are videos out there that show that Carlos watched a lot of videos of Nadal, Federer and Djokovic, and copied the best of their trick shots

 

[Kiam]

Agree that they are all closer than people have been thinking, but for the next big match I'd rather have Novak facing Med/Rune than Carlos.

Not now. Carlos has left them in the dust.

 

[Kiam]

Absolutely. I am hitting more dropshots than ever in my life too. Before Alcaraz it didnt even come to my mind as I was hitting from the baseline. Now I have found out that its a great weapon to disrupt the opponent’s pace.

I have been hitting drop shots all my life. I could never understand the hard-headedness of some people (not you) when i tried to explain how effective they are. It seems to to me that people often just want to copy the best players, rather than play the shots that work. I remember when Djokovic and Murray were 19 or 20. I counted TWELVE drop shots that Novk hit for winners int eh first set and a half! against the best defensive player in tennis history, IMHO, when he was at his quickest. And my favortie player, Fabrice Santoro, was a master dropper. So if the work against someone at THAT level, how much better they should work against club players! Of course, I have a very good slice forehand, so drops shots come naturally. The accidental ones are best...LOL...no one sees them coming...not even me! I like the slice forehand because you can drive, lob, or hist deep and soft, with the same motion.

 

[Kiam]

he will never grow on me with that obnoxious grunting. that combined with the punchable looking face makes his enemy #1 as far as tennis goes.

Punchable? Are you a former boxer?

 

[Bambooman]

Punchable? Are you a former boxer?

Is Rennae Stubbs?

 

[Torben]

There are videos out there that show that Carlos watched a lot of videos of Nadal, Federer and Djokovic, and copied the best of their trick shots

Very true.

Hoping the younger kids play a more rounded game than the baseline bashers of the last 20 years.