A year ago, he was unknown, but now he is praised as the "giant successor". The Spanish genius is eager to conquer Roland Garros

In 2022, the French Open kicked off. One year ago, Spanish young player Alcalas, who was still unknown in the men's tennis world, has now become the current tennis tournament French Open Is hot to win the championship.

Two weeks ago, in Madrid, Spain, Alcalas created the history of ATP, becoming the first person to beat in a row in the same clay race Nadal and Novak Djokovic 's players! In the subsequent finals, he only lost four games and swept ZVilev Winning the Cup, he won the championship of the Masters twice in a month, and his singles ranking reached the top six in the world. The most popular Spaniard occupied the front page headlines of all major tennis media, and it was only three days since his 19th birthday

Time went back to 12 months ago, when the fledgling Alcaras came to Madrid for the first time, he only ranked 120th in the world and fought for the chance to challenge Nadal on his 18th birthday. In the face of the king of laterite, although Alcalas had only won three games with all his strength, he saw the gap and the direction of progress through the battle with the top experts.

After Nadal's "enlightenment", Alcalas stepped into the fast lane in the second half of the season: Umag won the first ATP championship, the US Open eliminated Sisipas and entered the top eight of the Grand Slam for the first time, and at the end of the European season, he won Murray, Berettini and Sina consecutively... Alcalas, who gradually adapted to the pace of ATP, set a new goal for himself - he will reach the top 15 in 2022.

In the off-season, Alcalas is crazy about physical strength and strength training. He knows that strong body is crucial in high-intensity confrontation. The brokerage company has equipped Alcalas with a luxurious security team: three physical therapists, two physical fitness coaches, a doctor and a psychological consultant. The team strictly controls the diet of Alcalas and forbids him to eat any refined food.

The training plan formulated for him by the coaches has achieved remarkable results. After the offseason, the Spanish teenager who has increased to 75kg can steadily hit a service with a speed of more than 210km/h and a super forehand with a speed of 145km/h. So in the beginning of the Australian season, unlike last season, which also showed a slightly lean body, we saw a stronger and more developed muscle group of Alcalas, which also foreshadowed his take-off in 2022.

After losing to Berettini in the fifth set of the third round of the Australian Open, Alcalas soon took revenge in Rio and won the first championship of the season; Indian Wells Masters meets Nadal again, and Alcalas forces his idol into a desperate situation in the three hour battle, even making his opponent pay the price of rib fracture; Two weeks later, in the Miami Masters, the "cocoon breaking" Alcalas finally arrived at the "butterfly" moment of the Masters

The youngest ATP500 champion, the youngest men's singles champion of the Miami Masters, Barcelona's strong championship... The crazy growth of Alcalas is infinitely close to the brilliant record created by Nadal in his youth.

One year later, he entered the Madrid arena with Nadal again. People really began to believe that he had the strength to compete with giants.

King Felipe VI of Spain (middle) watches the battle

Under the watchful eyes of King Felipe VI of Spain, Alcalas, who played a stormy attack, dominated the first set in an amazing way. The winning point gap was 19-2, and Nadal, who had suffered three breaks, had no choice but to shake his head.

At the beginning of the second set, Alcalas, who was eager to pursue the victory, accidentally sprained his ankle when saving the ball. The emergency treatment of the medical suspension also made the game suspense reborn. Nadal took the advantage of the situation to equalize the set points.

The script of being defeated due to injury seems to have been put in front of Alcalas at this time, but the praise for Nadal's "always winning in adversity" before the game reflected the reality of Alcalas in the final set.

Alcalas, who had cleared his mind in the bathroom pause, gradually adapted to the pain. He made a critical break in the fourth inning of the decisive set, and kept the advantage until the end. The forehand curve crossing score at the match point was a magic ball!

For the third time, Alcaras finally won the first victory against idols. Alcaras became the first young player (under 20 years old) to defeat Nadal. Felipe VI, who witnessed the historical moment, specially congratulated the Spanish boys in the player channel, and Nadal stepped into the press conference hall, The first question was very sharp - "Do you think this game is a handover to Alcalas?"

"I am 36 years old and he has just celebrated his 19th birthday. From the perspective of age, this is certainly a handover," Nadal calmly analyzed. "Even if today is not the handover time, the next few months are worth watching."

In 2016, Nadal Foundation organized a series of youth competitions in Spain. At that time, only 12 year old Alcalas won the championship of U14 age group and took the championship trophy from Nadal.

It was the first time that Alcalas met Nadal himself, and also the first time that he said to the media, "Nadal is my idol, and my goal is to enter the top ten in the world!"

In Spain, there are thousands of young tennis players who regard Nadal as their idol, but only a few can really enter the professional tennis world. Fortunately, Alcalas, the horse of a thousand li, met the most suitable Bole at the most correct moment.

With his emergence in the youth arena, IMG quickly took Alcalas under his command and actively helped him find a new coach. In 2018, the most perfect candidate finally appeared Ferrero Just after the end of the cooperation with ZVilev, two generations of Spanish players successfully joined hands under the matchmaking of the brokerage company, and a good tennis story also began.

As the champion of French Open in 2003, Ferrero, 41 years old, also won the first place in the world. These two achievements are the ultimate dream of Alcalas.

"I am still young and entering a new world, and Ferrero has already experienced these experiences, which is an experience that other coaches cannot share," Alcalas said in an interview with the media. "He told me not to worry, but to enjoy the process, respect the game and accumulate experience."

In addition to teaching skills on the court, Ferrero also cares about his disciples everywhere. After the US Open burst into the top eight last year, Alcalas gradually gained more media attention, and tried to compare him with Nadal. Ferrero, who was worried about trying to grow up too soon, stepped forward in time to decompress his disciples and shouted that Alcalas only wanted to be his own slogan.

The down-to-earth master and apprentice set the goal of entering the top 15 in the world in the new season together. However, only four months later in 2022, they ushered in the time of line collision in Miami. However, due to the sudden death of his father, Ferrero could only follow his disciples' performance remotely.

At the historic moment when he entered the Masters final for the first time in his life, Alcalas signed his name on the camera to dedicate the victory to the coach. Ferrero, who didn't want to miss the student final, hurried back to Miami. After Alcaras won the championship, many fans were moved by the scene that the master and the apprentice hugged each other tightly in the stands.

After winning the first championship of the Masters, winning Nadadejo in a historic row, and defeating former disciples to dominate Madrid, Ferrero in the stands showed a happy, pleased and proud smile. The story of "a thousand mile horse often exists, but Bole rarely exists" thus wrote a new chapter of "lucky encounters, mutual achievements".

If we say that the victory in three sets is not convincing in the face of Rafael Nadal, who is back with residual blood. Then in the battle against Djokovic's Mount Tianwang in the Madrid semi-final, Alcaras used his skills to surprise four people and completely defeated a wave of people.

With non-stop pace, steady serve and receive, vigorous baseline drive, flexible tactical equipment, and natural and unrestrained offensive and defensive switching, Alcalas is as proficient as 18 martial arts, and the mysterious drop ball is even more impressive. Facing the defense of Germany and Jordan, Alcalas scored 51 winning points. The scoring rate of first round and second round was higher than that of the world (74% vs 66%, 34% vs 26%). In the long multi shot competition with more than 5 shots, he scored more than his opponent, and his offensive genes integrated into his bones were vividly displayed!

Even in the face of the 0-30 backwardness of the serve, even if the best opportunity to miss the match point is missed, Alcalas is not afraid of the stage, not panicked, and concentrated on starting the next round. His maturity, concentration and mental willpower beyond his own age, vaguely let experts and fans see the figures of giants when they were young.

In the match against Nadal, Alcalas won the match point through tireless running

Mike, the former coach of Serena Serena, exclaimed that Alcalas was a talent of choice that had not been seen in 30 years. Ana Kongsheng, the former coach of Federer, praised his playing style as a lightning bolt. Uncle Tony said frankly that Alcalas had surpassed Nadal in technology in the same period

The attack and defense can be switched freely, from the bottom line to the net quickly

Although Madrid at high altitude is an untypical clay court, after this battle, Alcalas quickly rose to be the top three winner of the French Open; By defeating three Top 4 players in a row, Alcaras' potential as a champion has been fully affirmed.

What is more noteworthy is that Fenard's career has entered its twilight years, and most players of Alcalas, who has just entered the tennis world, can avoid competing with the Big Three in their careers. If in the future he can continue to carry the banner in the generation after 00, it seems that the situation of harvesting Grand Slam with a unique style is not an empty dream.

However, Alcalas himself did not want to wait for this empty cheque. After Madrid won the championship and achieved a perfect warm-up, he withdrew from the Rome Masters very rationally. The ambition of the Spanish youth has been aimed at the French Open.

"I am ready to win the Grand Slam championship. This is my goal this season, and I will work hard for it. Let's see what will happen in Roland Garros."

Yes, Alcalas is ready. Can the French Open be the starting point for him to disrupt Nader's Grand Slam party this year? The development of the story has become more and more expectant

* Source: Visual China