Alcaraz thrives in New York: 'I feel a special action here'

ATP Tour

Alcaraz thrives in New York: 'I feel a special action here'

Spaniard details his love for US Open's host city ahead of fourth-round clash

Corinne Dubreuil/ATP Tour Carlos Alcaraz lifted his maiden major trophy at the US Open in 2022. By ATPTour.com/es Staff

The New York metropolitan area, which includes parts of New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania, has a population of over 19.5 million. For most, it is very easy to melt away into the hoards of people who march through its streets every day, even in the early hours of the morning.

However, Carlos Alcaraz feels like he doesn’t experience the city as he used to.

“This year I feel like they are more familiar with me on the street,” admitted the No. 2 in the PIF ATP Rankings before his fourth-round clash with Arthur Rinderknech at the US Open. “I get stopped more and I can’t walk as much as I’d like, but here, at the tournament, I always feel a lot of affection and I love it.”

New York provided the stage for the Spaniard’s introduction to the world at large. In 2021, at just 18 years of age, he defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas in a memorable five setter, the battle established him definitively on the international tennis map.

One year later, in 2022, the Alcaraz completed one of the most epic campaigns ever seen at Flushing Meadows. The tournament became a rollercoaster of emotions. First, his quarter-final against Jannik Sinner, a five-hour and fifteen-minute match that finished well past midnight and is still remembered as one of the greatest encounters of this decade.

Then came his semi-final against Frances Tiafoe, another five-set clash that had the New York crowd in raptures. Finally, in the final, Alcaraz took down Casper Ruud to win his first Grand Slam title and become the youngest World No. 1 in history. His relationship with the city has been a special one ever since.

It’s no secret that spectacle and Flushing Meadows go hand in hand. The music, the constant conversation with the fans, the atmosphere of the show... New York celebrates tennis in its own unique way, with background noise and exaggerated celebrations. In this context, Alcaraz has found a home away from home.

The way he smiles during rallies, searching for a connection with the stands after hitting a winner, has brought him closer to the tournament’s essence. The Arthur Ashe Stadium, housing over 23,000 fans, has become a stage on which Alcaraz must feel like he is performing a concert: the artist takes to the stage and is welcomed by a frenzied crowd, whose energy gives him the drive he needs to sustain his aggressive and over-the-top tennis.

“I try to do different things so that they have a good time,” said the five-time major champion. “And I think that the reaction whenever I do something different, or a good point, is double that of other players. Whenever I play here I feel a very special affection.”

In this tournament, Alcaraz is playing with an advantage, his refreshing attitude connects with fans who are looking for more than just a sports result. The Spaniard provides the perfect combination of world-class tennis and spontaneous entertainment, something the New York crowds realised from day one.

New York is, for many players, a Grand Slam tournament that demands something extra. The logistics, the travel, and the way of life can take their toll. Alcaraz, though, manages to convert that overload into a positive. That is where he sets himself apart; what to others is noise, he turns into fuel.

“Ultimately, the city depends on the person,” said Alcaraz. “I’m a very calm person who prefers not to be around too many people and in New York there are a lot of people, a lot of traffic, it’s like everything is twice as fast. Off court you can get a bit stressed, but on it... I love it. I like the people and the atmosphere because it really reflects the way I am on court. And I’m grateful for that.”

New York, with its 19.5 million citizens and its incessant rhythm, finds in Alcaraz a player who is able to give them that energy back with interest every time he steps out on court.

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