New York – Within hours Carlos Alakraj Last Monday, reaching the site for the US Open, and before he took the court for his first round match, it became the biggest story of the day.
Not due to his rivalry with World No. 1 Pronounced sinnerOr because he was a favorite for winning the title again. everyone was Talking about your new haircut,
“I mean, it is definitely terrible,” Francis tiafoThe two -time US Open semi -finalist said that after his match with laughter before adding a cavet. “He is my boy.”
In the next 48 hours, it felt like every player on the tour – Naomi Osaka To Alexander zweev To Emma Redukanu To make himself a sinner – was asked about, and Alakraj had an opinion on his hair. Each comment made the internet round, and Alakraj responded to his signature with good nature, Convict your younger brother for a look,
Now, after more than a week, Alakraj’s hair has already started coming back, and has since booked his ticket in the semi-finals, which is after winning at number 20 seeds at number 20 seeds on number 6-4, 6-2, 6-4. Jiri Leheka On Tuesday. And while the questions about his cut seem to be faded, this incident gives an attractive reminiscent of how dear he is. While some players are always more popular or acceptable than others in the locker room, very few players of Alkaraz’s caliber, at this stage in their careers, usually hold that distinction.
This answers the question: How can the five-time prominent champion and current world number 2, Alkaraz, how can the tennis court be so frightened for his blistering athleticism, tireless patience and powerful forehand-but can be liked so well by its opponents?
“It is very difficult to pull that balance,” Sam QuareFormer Wimbledon semi-finalist-inflammatory and podcaster told ESPN this week. “Many superstars cannot close it. When that player walks around the lounge, you can make fun of him, and he is great with everyone. [Roger] Federer and [Rafael] Nadal had a little bit, but Carlos feels more [quality],
“He is a superstar worldwide, but there are some parts that are just everyday man, and people insist on him.”
Tennis, at its core, Is a deep personal game.
In court, the players are alone. While their coaches and support teams are seated nearby, and they can sometimes give guidance, it eventually comes down to the player and finds a way to win on their own.
Away from competition, players are on the road for most of the year, traveling from hotel room to hotel room and tournament. This can be an isolated experience, and players often spend most of their time with their teams. In the years, many top players have said that they find it very difficult to stay close with their peers.
Five -time prominent champion “It’s hard to be really good friends on tour Maria Sharapova Said in 2011“I find it difficult to dinner with someone a night and then they have to play after two days, as it is a personal game at the end of the day and we are all very competitive … you know that we are not in a team and as far as close friends go, my family comes with me on the street. I don’t roam in the locker room – I am not my favorite place in the world.”
While things have changed in recent years – US Open Breakout Star Taylor Townsand Credible for epidemic to transfer locker room dynamics In an interview with ESPN in 2024 – And Quare insisted that the men’s locker room has always been a friendly place, Alkaraz feels that he is probably not other superstars around his peers.
At the beginning of the tournament, A picture of Alakraj and sinner was circulated An Italian restaurant in Midtown Manhattan together at Ostria Delbianco. While Alkraj later explained that it was just a coincidence that both of them were there, it was notable that it was reliable that they were together there. The same possibility will not be a matter for Sharapova and say, Serena WilliamsOr Federer and Nadal in the early years of his rivalry.
Prior to retiring in 2022, 37 -year -old Quaree spent a lot of his career around Nadal, Federer and K 3. Novak jokovichAccording to him, Federer was “if it could not be good”, then it was also good, and even “fine with it” if it is mocked, but overall everyone was not naturally cham. Nadal was also attached to his peers, but the language obstruction could make it challenging. As Alakraj has made a deliberate attempt to improve his flow in English, it has allowed them to interact more originally with a large group of players and people around the tour.
“Carlos speaks better English than Rafa,” Quare said. “So, I think he is satire, humor, such things that were difficult with a way.
Quare said that on his “anything major” podcast, which he co-maintained with fellow retired American players John Isner, Steve Johnson And Jack sockThey Was talking recently Was Alakraj always able to take a personal flight at this point in his career. Without remembering a beet, Alkaraz quickly commented on the clip on social media – was involved in spelling errors – to say that he took a commercial flight, and shared his route from Madrid to Cincinnati. When Alakraj saw Quaree a day or two later, he came to him with a good nature and reiterated that he had a connecting flight in Philadelphia to go to the Cincinnati open.
In that tournament, World No. 1 in Doubles, Townsend asked Alakraj – who went to win the title – to take a picture with his young son. He did not hesitate and kept engaged in a conversation.
“He was great,” Townsend recalled the encounter. “I forgot that he is not the number 1 [and] I was so, ‘Carlos is also number 1.’ AJ goes, ‘Are you number 1? Like my mother. ‘Was like Carlos,’ I am close in a way. ‘ They played it. ,
Pado BagnaisA career Zarnemann, who lost in the first round of qualifying at the US Open, shared a story “A Better Person” Alakraj in an interview with ATP, and shared a story about asking him to help him to make a birthday video for a friend.
“He could not tell me, ignored me or told me what day to do it,” Bagnis said“But he replied by asking me when I had time so we could do this. I felt something really. [and] Worked well. ,
Even when the players lose to Alakraj, they often sing their praise and share their best wishes. In 2022, in the US Open semi -final, Alakraj shortly after defeating Tiafo, Tiafo asked him in the locker room, As later shown on Netflix’s “Break Point” dock-series,
“Win this,” Tiafo said before hugging her.
Alakraj reminded Tiafo that he was “amazing” because he started walking away. “do not forget to.”
Shortly after her retirement From sports, American Shelby RogersTwo -time major quarter finalists and former world number 30, An ESPN interview openly surprised If his trademark friendly demonore was actually obstructed in court.
Rogers said, “It was definitely like a part of me, ‘Oh, perhaps if I was hard and did not have the best-toor-tour reputation, I might have won more matches,” Rogers said, “said that before deciding that he had no regrets and was proud that he had his authentic self-proclaimed.
But this has not been a problem for Alakraj. Not in the US Open, nor anywhere during its career. He has won 22 ATP titles, and marked his 268th win on a tour on Tuesday.
Alkaraj can, and usually defeat anyone on any day – usually with a wide smile on his face. While certainly not required the level of attention as the main draw, Alakraj was seen curiosity chattering Jessica pegulaA rival in the mixed doubles draw, shortly before going out to court for their first round match.
This is their enthusiasm and joy that seems to them to finish for fans, and perhaps he is also the central who is able to achieve.
Before the start of the tournament, Mary Joe Fernandez, former World No. 4 and current ESPN analyst Mary Joe Fernandez said, “I think fun for Alakraj is a major part of his success.” “The way he can smile, not only when he wins a point, but when the other rival plays a great point, he is able to clap, [and] Enjoy a moment.
“I am confident that there was a big point in Cincinnati where his coach told him,” Smile, have fun. ” It gives him rest.
But even in defeat, he remains adorned, and this is something that appreciates his colleagues. After falling as a sinner in four sets during the Wimbledon final in July – his first disadvantage with a slam title on the line – Alakraj sat on his chair with a smile on his face and appreciated as a sinner as the sinner went to celebrate his box with his team. After the moments, Alkaraj congratulated the sinner during his on-court interview and said that he was “really happy” for his opponent-and both were dropped from the court for “really good relationship”. Then he thanked him for making him a better player.
Sinner replied thanking Alkaraz to “AAP Khiladi Hai” and his “amazing relationship”.
During his run so far in New York, Alakraj has been prominent, and was the only person to reach the quarter -finals without leaving a set. On Tuesday, he reached the ninth major semi -finals of his career – just joined Nadal, Boris Baker, Matt Willander and Buren Borg to achieve that milestone before his 23rd birthday.
According to ESPN Bet, Alkaraz currently has the second best Auds, which is only slightly behind the sinner, to win the US Open. He will play the winner of Tuesday night’s clash between Djokovic and Djokovic next time Taylor fritz In one semi -finals on Friday. While their places are certainly on achieving their sixth major title, and the second in New York, Quaree does not think that any result will change a lot to dramatically alkaraz.
He believes that Alakraj will probably remain the same energetic and playful man, almost everyone has been in love on the tour.
“More important than anything, he is just a good person,” Quare said. “I think it is only in his DNA, it is what he is. I think it is also due to the unprecedented people, his parents, his agents, because it is also, his agent, his agent, [his coach] Juan Carlos FerroroIt encourages.
“I know if I was going down from the hallway with my son and we saw him and asked for a picture, he will do 100%, and then will spend a few minutes with him. Who knows, maybe he will win 15 big companies once and the pressure is different, but I think he will still be the same man.
