‘More grand slams’: Carlos Alcaraz already has sights set on 2023 glory after US Open triumph
Carlos Alcaraz has a target date of 2023 for his next grand slam: the US Open.
The 27-year-old Mexican will compete in the tournament next year after winning a hard-fought second round in Eastbourne on Tuesday.
He will play the winner of the Australian Open and Wimbledon, the Frenchman Pierre-Hugues Herbert, and then hope to progress to the final.
However, Alcaraz will most likely take the win in the final against Herbert, a two-time defending champion.
“I am really excited,” said Alcaraz, who is hoping to play at least twice in the coming weeks. “My goal is to play as many tournaments as I can next year.
“I have to make sure that I play at the level that I can. I’m not playing just because I’m ranked. I think I can play at a high level and win tournaments.
“I have to play well in all of my grand slam competitions.”
Alcaraz’s win – the third of his career at an ATP tournament – took him up to the same number of career titles as Michael Chang, who reached the last four of this year’s US Open before being beaten by Novak Djokovic in the final.
It also puts him level with the man he faces in the final, Herbert, who won his first grand slam semi-final in the US Open last September against Juan Martin Del Potro.
“I’m ready for him,” Alcaraz said of Herbert.
“I’ve played his matches in practice. He’s a really good player and I really want to continue this rivalry. I think we are going to be able to play a really good match.”
Alcaraz’s win also gave him his first career semi-final in his favourite tournament.
At 22:30 BST on Tuesday, Alcaraz played a two-hour, 52-minute game with Dominic Inglot to reach the second round against David Goffin. But the first to three sets was Al
