Hitman
Bionic Poster
The most powerful forces in tennis are looking to be on a massive collision during the clay season.
The rise and rise of Carlos Alcaraz has created a frenetic buzz now on the tour of the possibilities, what has made the anticipation of what can happen during the clay even more heightened is that it almost seems like him and Djokovic have been dominating two alternative tours now for the last few months, leading to the inevitable showdown that will eventually happen between them as a true clash of the titans.
Alcaraz won the USO, Djokovic bounces back and wins Tel Aviv, Astana, YEC, Adelaide and AO....then Alcaraz comes back and wins Buenos Aires, Indian Wells and looking very strong in Miami to win that one also. Basically they are cleaning up and yet their paths have not crossed each other, despite the number one ranking going back and forth between them. It is only a matter of time, and this clay season, all bets are off, both will be playing on the clay with the intent to dominate and win at Roland Garros. A showdown between them, compared to last year in Madrid will be a lot more different, Alcaraz is now firmly entrenched as one of the biggest forces on the tour, and is creating an aura with his trailblazing, Djokovic is back to his best without carrying the mental demons that plagued him since Jan 22 in Melbourne. They have owned the tour between them at the highest level on HC, with a few titles being left over for the likes of Medvedev who had a great 19 match winning run, only to be stomped by Alcaraz easily in Indian Wells. Yes, the surface will be clay, but it just means they will be even more hellbent to continue their form, especially knowing about the threat the other is now.
Add to all this with the King of Clay coming back to defend his turf, the training videos are coming out more and more frequently, he hasn't committed to any event yet, but all eyes are on him getting everything together for big showdown in Paris. He knows he has his biggest rival trying to end the slam race once and for all, a win for Djokovic at RG and it's over for Nadal and his goals to be the slam leader, so he will fight ferociously to stop it, or at least delay it a little longer....he also knows that the new successor to his throne has arrived, Alcaraz is the real deal and he is only going to be better in every facet of his game, Rafa knows Carlos is coming for that title. Any of these three matches anywhere on the clay, but especially at Roland Garros will create a buzz because the stakes. A feeling of three superpowers coming together under the weight of the destiny to battle it out for all the glory.
But, it doesn't end there....Sinner has continued to improve everywhere, a player who is on the cusp of a big breakthrough. It's not a matter of IF, it is a matter of WHEN he breaks through, something can happen in Miami, or on the clay. Tsitispas returning back to his favorite surface, the two time defending champion in MC and Rome finalist will be pushing very hard again, yes, he has a shoulder issue, but I feel the conditions will still play to his advantage. Zverev is already on the clay in Monaco, ready to push even harder, knowing that he has a lot of points to defend to stop his ranking plummeting. And we could some surprises come through also, as more of the younger players will have that much more time and an extra season on the clay.
Could be the most exciting part of the season this year, as many questions will be answered.
The rise and rise of Carlos Alcaraz has created a frenetic buzz now on the tour of the possibilities, what has made the anticipation of what can happen during the clay even more heightened is that it almost seems like him and Djokovic have been dominating two alternative tours now for the last few months, leading to the inevitable showdown that will eventually happen between them as a true clash of the titans.
Alcaraz won the USO, Djokovic bounces back and wins Tel Aviv, Astana, YEC, Adelaide and AO....then Alcaraz comes back and wins Buenos Aires, Indian Wells and looking very strong in Miami to win that one also. Basically they are cleaning up and yet their paths have not crossed each other, despite the number one ranking going back and forth between them. It is only a matter of time, and this clay season, all bets are off, both will be playing on the clay with the intent to dominate and win at Roland Garros. A showdown between them, compared to last year in Madrid will be a lot more different, Alcaraz is now firmly entrenched as one of the biggest forces on the tour, and is creating an aura with his trailblazing, Djokovic is back to his best without carrying the mental demons that plagued him since Jan 22 in Melbourne. They have owned the tour between them at the highest level on HC, with a few titles being left over for the likes of Medvedev who had a great 19 match winning run, only to be stomped by Alcaraz easily in Indian Wells. Yes, the surface will be clay, but it just means they will be even more hellbent to continue their form, especially knowing about the threat the other is now.
Add to all this with the King of Clay coming back to defend his turf, the training videos are coming out more and more frequently, he hasn't committed to any event yet, but all eyes are on him getting everything together for big showdown in Paris. He knows he has his biggest rival trying to end the slam race once and for all, a win for Djokovic at RG and it's over for Nadal and his goals to be the slam leader, so he will fight ferociously to stop it, or at least delay it a little longer....he also knows that the new successor to his throne has arrived, Alcaraz is the real deal and he is only going to be better in every facet of his game, Rafa knows Carlos is coming for that title. Any of these three matches anywhere on the clay, but especially at Roland Garros will create a buzz because the stakes. A feeling of three superpowers coming together under the weight of the destiny to battle it out for all the glory.
But, it doesn't end there....Sinner has continued to improve everywhere, a player who is on the cusp of a big breakthrough. It's not a matter of IF, it is a matter of WHEN he breaks through, something can happen in Miami, or on the clay. Tsitispas returning back to his favorite surface, the two time defending champion in MC and Rome finalist will be pushing very hard again, yes, he has a shoulder issue, but I feel the conditions will still play to his advantage. Zverev is already on the clay in Monaco, ready to push even harder, knowing that he has a lot of points to defend to stop his ranking plummeting. And we could some surprises come through also, as more of the younger players will have that much more time and an extra season on the clay.
Could be the most exciting part of the season this year, as many questions will be answered.
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