‘More grand slams’: Carlos Alcaraz already has sights set on 2023 glory after US Open triumph
Carlos Alcaraz will meet Rafael Nadal in the third round in the US Open after his triumph inside Arthur Ashe Stadium on Monday.
The Spaniard is a favourite to reach the quarter-finals at Flushing Meadows and will face the world number two in one of the most famous courts in tennis.
It will be one of the toughest tests in the world for Alcaraz, who endured a five-set loss to the Australian at the quarter-finals of the Australian Open two years ago.
“I will face Rafa in the third round. I won the first set but lost the second and third set. I think that’s good.
“It will be a good challenge to my level and I’m ready for that. I hope that he will play well and that’s the first match I want to win.
“I really want to play Rafa in the third round because he’s ranked No1. I played him in the first round and lost so I don’t count him [as my opponent].”
Alcaraz has always played well against the likes of Nadal. The Spaniard made an astonishing 14 unforced errors in the first set against Alcaraz at the Australian Open, making him one of the worst serving first setters ever.
Nadal is a giant in the sport of tennis and has won three grand slams on clay. Alcaraz has never suffered such a defeat on hard courts.
“I played him in Barcelona in 2014 when I was playing a clay court tournament. I didn’t play all the match but I played five or six matches and I was winning.
“He was playing good and he was winning matches. He was playing better than me, that’s the problem I have with him.
“He’s a very good player and I have had lots of tough matches with
