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Carlos Alcaraz added a ninth singles title to his name over the weekend, but he has set some pretty short-term goals for himself as he looks ahead to Roland Garros.
Alcaraz is playing through injury after a late start to the 2023 season, but with three titles to his name, he’s making big strides week in and week out.
After wins at the Buenos Aires Open and the India Wells Open, Alcaraz produced another trophy on Sunday, brushing aside Stephanos Tsitsipas to successfully retain his Barcelona Open title.
«I’m a very ambitious kid and I always want more,» the 19-year-old said after his win. «I want to be better to win trophies like Barcelona. We are never satisfied. I surround myself with ambitious people who are not satisfied with anything.»
Next up is another title defense, this time at the ATP Masters 1000 Madrid Open, before heading to the Rome Masters to make his Italian Open debut. However, Roland Garros is one trophy he really wants to win.
«Roland Garros is an obvious short term goal and I want to win it. But now Madrid and Rome are coming,» he said.
Read more: WATCH: Carlos Alcaraz and the boys go for a dip in the spectacular pool after Barcelona’s opening win
Carlos Alcaraz’s story at Roland Garros so far…
The Spaniard, who won his last title as a teenager on Sunday at the Madrid Open, will be looking for his third victory at Roland Garros this year.
In the year In 2021, he made it to the third round for the first time. 18-year-old Bernabe Zapata beat Miralles in the first round in 2011. He was the youngest player since Novak Djokovic to win the French Open in 2005 and the youngest player to reach the third round in Paris since Andrey Medvedev. In 1992
His run was finally ended by a straight sets loss to Jan-Lenard Struff.
They were two better than last year when they reached the quarter-finals. Sixth seed, he lost to Sebastian Korda and Karen Kachanov and reached the last eight where he faced Alexander Zverev. The German was superb on the day as he secured a 6-4, 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (9-7) win.
Alcaraz should find a good match this year as Novak Djokovic could be the top seed and could be seeded second.
