Carlos Alcaraz to CNN: ‘I’m playing unbelievable tennis’
The former No. 1 in the world is happy to be on a winning roll
AUSTIN — Carlos Martin Alcaraz was not surprised to hit a tie-break point at the end of his match at the Cincinnati Masters. He was surprised that it came from a 20-year-old Venezuelan who was only 13 years old.
He was even more surprised when he heard his friend and fellow Venezuelan, Guillermo Henriquez, yell, “It’s my turn! It’s my turn!”
“I thought maybe they were just joking,” Alcaraz said Tuesday. “It was the first time that we’d talked in the last few days. So I’ve been joking with everyone, joking with him, telling him to do some moves. I’m sure to him it was like a birthday party.”
The two friends are part of a group of about a dozen young Venezuelans who have turned up every year since the start of this season. They are playing in tournaments from Dallas to Memphis, the tour’s biggest stop in the winter, and then back home to Venezuela to see the start of the Davis Cup. Their goal is to become a regular in the ATP.
“I think we’re going to win,” Alcaraz said. “We haven’t won anything like that since we were at 17 years old. So I’m pretty sure we’re going to do it. I hope that we’ll get to see the Davis Cup final and win it.”
The group, which calls itself the “Dream Team,” has drawn the attention of the ATP. If they do beat one of the world’s best, they will join a class of players that includes former No. 1s Pete Sampras, Lleyton Hewitt and John Isner.
“Carlos is a great player, a great person,” said Andy Roddick, the Australian who was recently ranked No. 17 in the world, the highest ranking since Alcaraz won the title at 24. Roddick and Alcaraz have always had a good relationship.
“I don’t need to congratulate anyone
