John Isner, in the latest episode of his podcast Nothing Major, talked about Carlos Alcaraz and the Spaniard’s ambitions for the 2025 edition of the Australian Open.
Carlitos has defined the Australian Open – the only Slam he still lacks in his collection – as his most important goal for the next year. If he were to triumph at Melbourne Park, the current ATP number 3, at 21, would become the youngest player to win all four Slams, beating the record set by Rafael Nadal in 2010, at the age of 24.
But if Alcaraz suffers an early exit similar to his second-round loss to Botic Van de Zandschulp at the US Open in August, Isner believes the blame will be placed on a decision the Spaniard makes late in the 2024 season.
Alcaraz spent part of December in the United States, playing two exhibition matches in New York and Charlotte, against Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe, respectively.
Alcaraz© Stream screenshot
Talking about his decision to play those events, Isner said: “None of us look down on Carlos going to the States and cashing in two huge cheques, while Jannik Sinner seems to have decided to rest a bit after his great year and then go back to work, keeping a low profile. They were different choices and they will both be ready to go to Australia.”
The American added: “I think if Carlos doesn’t do well at the Australian Open, a lot of people will attribute it to the fact that he was in the United States in December to do exhibitions instead of preparing. I don’t think that’s right, but you’ll see that it will be like that.”
We recall Carlitos won the US Open 2022, Wimbledon Championships 2023 and French Open and Wimbledon 2024.
In total, Carlitos won 16 tournaments in his career, of which 5 on hard-courts, three on grass-courts and 8 on clay-courts. The young Spaniard also won – this year – the silver medal at the Paris Olympics, losing in the final against Novak Djokovic: the Serbian champion thus crowned the much-dreamed-of Career Golden Slam.
Tennis World USA