AUSTRALIAN OPEN . By Leo Canaparo
Carlos Alcaraz arrives in Australia sending a clear message from his first press conference of the season: continuity, focus and a strong desire to compete. The Spaniard heads into the first Grand Slam of the year convinced that the work done during the preseason is moving in the right direction.
Asked about his preparation and how he has approached the past few weeks of training, Alcaraz insisted that there have been no major changes to his daily routine, beyond fine-tuning details he had already been working on — despite the shift from Juan Carlos Ferrero to Samuel López as his main coach, with whom he had already collaborated last season.
“Everything is practically the same,” said the Murcian. “Obviously, it is a change of main coach and each one has their own thoughts and way of working,” added the No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings. “I’ve already been working with Samu for a year, so I know very well how he understands this sport. Nothing has changed in our training routine this preseason.”
“We’ve tried to carry out over these weeks what we both wanted to work on looking ahead to this year,” said the six-time Grand Slam champion. “I feel very, very good about it.”
Beyond the technical aspects, Alcaraz once again highlighted a factor he considers crucial to his development: how he approaches matches and maintains intensity from start to finish.
“Above all, it’s about not losing focus and keeping the same intensity throughout. It’s something I’ve been working on a lot over the past few years, putting a lot of emphasis on it.”
With competition now in sight, Alcaraz spoke about his debut in the tournament and what it means to start a Grand Slam against a local player — a familiar scenario in Melbourne.
“Well, debuting in a Grand Slam, the first official match of the year, against someone from the host country — in this case an Australian — I know the crowd will be behind him, but I’m really eager to start competing.”
Alcaraz, who will begin his campaign this Sunday against local player Adam Walton, admitted he has glanced at the draw, though without letting it influence his preparation.
“Honestly, yes, I’ve seen a bit of who is on my side of the draw, but I try not to pay too much attention to it.”
His focus, as he made clear, remains fully on the first match.
“I try to picture myself on court against Walton. I’ve played him before, although it was on grass, but we’ve already faced each other.”
With that mindset, Alcaraz heads into Australia determined to stay in the present and take things step by step.
“So I’m already putting myself in that situation and I’m really looking forward to seeing how I progress.”
A look back at Alcaraz in Melbourne
Alcaraz is still searching for his first deep run at the Australian Open. His best result came in 2024, when he reached the quarterfinals, falling in a hard-fought match that nevertheless showed his growing maturity on hard courts. With more experience, a stronger physical base and a clearer mental approach, the Spaniard arrives in 2025 believing he can finally make a serious push toward the title in Melbourne.
Photo ATP Australian Open