MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Carlos Alcaraz thinks he might get a tattoo of a little kangaroo on one leg.
It would be a lasting memory of him defeat Novak Djokovic in Australian Open men’s final Sunday, which made him the youngest male player, at 22, to achieve a Career Grand Slam.
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“I already know it’s going to be a kangaroo. I just don’t know the place,” Alcaraz said. “I’m just thinking about the leg but I don’t know which calf, if it will be the right or the left.”
Alcaraz posed for photographers on Monday with the ornate Australian Open trophy, looking casually stylish in black, loafers and no socks. The photo shoot took place at the Royal Exhibition Building, in the middle of the gardens in central Melbourne.
THE Elena Rybakina, winner of the women’s singles was photographed with her trophy on Saturday on the banks of the Yarra River, which runs through Melbourne.
According to Australian media, Alcaraz spent the night after his victory with his family in his hotel suite, ordering pizza, beer and champagne.
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In a message to fans on social media during the photoshoot, Alcaraz said: “I still can’t believe I just did it.
“A dream come true for me, a career Grand Slam. I’m enjoying this incredible moment. I can’t forget the support and love I received.”
After completing a 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-5 Djokovic, 10-time Australian Open championAlcaraz admitted “I hate losing.”
He explained his state of mind at the moment of victory.
“Before the last point…a lot of things went through my mind, to be honest,” Alcaraz said. “I was really nervous, I was almost shaking. So once I saw the ball go out, I was like, ‘Okay, I did it.’
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“It was a great feeling to think about my family and my team as well.”
In Pursuit of Completion
He now aims to win all the major tennis prizes: three Masters 1000 titles which eluded him, an end-of-season championship and a Davis Cup with Spain. He has won six of nine Masters 1000 crowns but has yet to win the Canadian Open, Shanghai and the Paris Masters.
“I hate losing, so that’s my motivation. Trying to lose as little as possible,” Alcaraz said. “Yes, there are certain tournaments that I really wanted to win at least once. A few Masters 1000s, I just really wanted to finish all the Masters 1000s, trying to win each one at least once.
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“Obviously the ATP Finals and the Davis Cup are also a goal. I really wanted to achieve that for my country, for Spain. I set other goals for the season and I will try to be ready or try to achieve those goals.”
Join the big guys
Alcaraz joined Don Budge, Fred Perry, Roy Emerson, Rod Laver, Andre Agassi, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Djokovic as only the ninth man to win all four Grand Slams. He was younger than Budge by 91 days and considerably younger than Nadal who was 24 and three months, Federer almost 28 and Djokovic 29.
“I’m going to say that tennis is really beautiful, but the bad thing about tennis is that we have tournaments week after week and sometimes you don’t realize what you’re doing these days,” he said. “Because once you finish a tournament, you have to be prepared and your mind is on the next tournament.
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“What I learned this year is to appreciate and enjoy every second of the moment that you live. Not only lifting trophies, but also playing tournaments, playing tennis, having victories, suffering defeats. Whatever it is, just enjoy and appreciate the life that you are living.”
Although Alcaraz credited Djokovic, 38, as an inspiration, he is not sure he will be as enduring.
“You know, let’s see how long I play. I hope to be in such great shape at 38 years old, to compete and challenge the younger players, and to play Grand Slam finals.”
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AP Tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
