Carlos Alcaraz (19), the youngest ATP leader in the history of the circuit, has been offering this reflection for days:
-It's a great feeling to feel the best in the world. But for me that is just a number, a ranking. Being there doesn't mean you're going to win every game or every tournament.
His reflection makes perfect sense, and to show a button: Holger Rune.
Rune is Danish and another teenager, he is the same age as Alcaraz, and he is also one of the sensations of the year, just like Casper Ruud or Felix Auger-Aliassime, and when he plays, he is a cyclone.
His irruption – cap backwards, child's face, "baby manners", Wawrinka dixit – is a blessing, more wood for the generational change, but this Friday has not been good for Alcaraz: the Murcian has felt the weight of the Danish cyclone and also abdominal pain, and that is why he has ended up withdrawing from the Masters 1,000 in Paris-Bercy, terrible news when we are on the eve of the Masters Cup and the Davis Cup finals.
(all these magnificent shows are played before the end of this November)
(...)
Rune (18th racket in the world, he was the 313th a year and a half ago) plays how he feels, like a teenager, like Alcaraz, but this time he has shown himself to be grown up, very involved in the battle, more than the Murcian: He took the initiative in the service, lengthened the rallies and did not wrinkle when Alcaraz brought out his Alcaraz moments (drop shots, lobs, rhythm management in the game, serves-volley...).
Quarter-finalist at Roland Garros and champion of a tournament and finalist of two others in the last month, Rune has appropriated the first set and has not slowed down in the second set, not even when Alcaraz offered his best version (he defended his serve with blank games).
Both involved in the fight, Alcaraz said enough is enough at the beginning of the tie-break, with a sore abdominal.
Within days, the extent of the injury will be known.
