"his thoughts cast back to his haters: To be honest, I'm now thinking about the people who said I wouldn't make it, who thought I'd come here to Australia and not even make it past the quarter-finals, said Alcaraz in Spanish to Eurosport Spain. That I'd come here to Australia and not play good tennis. Those who didn't believe in me. I remember those people, honestly."
"There have of course been many challenges in Alcaraz's career, and he has had to overcome ample obstacles to continue winning major titles at such an unprecedented rate, but controversy is not something he is familiar with. For all his fire on the court, the 22-year-old is a warm, pleasant person who plays fairly and has become an incredibly popular figure on and off the court. Last year, despite being dominated by him throughout the year, his fellow players voted him the winner of ATP's sportsmanship award."
Carlos Alcaraz achieved the career Grand Slam by defeating Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open, holding the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup. After a tense semifinal, he navigated a long line of post-tournament interviews and found his mind on people who had doubted him, recalling critics who predicted an early exit in Australia. His career has included many challenges and obstacles, yet controversy remains unusual for him. At 22 he is widely popular, plays fairly, and won the ATP sportsmanship award last year despite facing top rivals. The December 17 announcement ending his partnership with coach Juan Carlos Ferrero marked an unfamiliar moment of discord.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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