Carlos Alcaraz kicked things off at the 2024 Miami Open with a win. Yet, he didn’t shy away from mentioning the struggle with the weather post-match.
He’s no stranger to Miami, having battled it out at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Florida more than once. His track record? Pretty impressive, with a deep run last year and a victory the year before that.
But, oh, those Miami conditions. They’re something else, aren’t they? Despite this, Alcaraz seemed unfazed in his opener this year, breezing past Roberto Carballes Baena with scores of 6-2, 6-1. He’s keeping up his stellar form, it seems.
Post-match, though, he opened up a bit more about the weather woes. The humidity in Miami? It’s like a sauna, and it gave him a bit of trouble.
“Well, it was tough,” he said, talking about the humidity, the court, the balls – the whole shebang. Adapting his game was a challenge, but he felt he managed quite well. “I’m really happy with my performance,” he added, a smile likely on his face.
“Physically, it was a beast,” he continued. Despite the seemingly easy 6-2, 6-1 win, it felt like a marathon to him. But he was pleased, very pleased, with how he handled everything. “Hopefully keep going,” he said, optimism in his voice.
Miami’s notorious for its brutal conditions. Players have fainted right on the courts. Remember Jack Draper? And then there was Arthur Cazaux, who just last week… Well, you get the picture. Even Matteo Berrettini had a close call during his match against Andy Murray.
Luckily for Alcaraz, his match was a night affair. That took the edge off the heat, but the humidity? It lingered, stubborn as ever. As the tournament progresses, he’s hoping to get more accustomed. Gael Monfils is up next for him. Wonder how that’ll go.
Takeaways
- ‣ Carlos Alcaraz made a winning start at the 2024 Miami Open, despite admitting to struggling with the conditions, particularly the high humidity, after his match.
- ‣ Alcaraz has a history of success at the Miami Open, including a deep run last year and a victory the year before, but still finds the specific conditions challenging to adapt to.
- ‣ Incidents of players struggling with the conditions, including fainting, are not uncommon at the Miami Open, highlighting the tough environmental challenges competitors face.