Andy Roddick has delivered a crucial insight into the demeanour of Carlos Alcaraz ahead of his US Open final later tonight.
It marks the third straight iteration of this rivalry played at a Grand Slam, all of which have been for the title.
Jannik Sinner claimed the most recent showdown, whilst the Spaniard stole the French Open crown from the jaws of defeat.
Tonight’s New York clash is important for so many different reasons beyond just taking the title, as the victor will also be guaranteed to hold the world number one spot after the conclusion of the tournament.
With so much on the line, these superstars would be forgiven for feeling a little tension.
However, Andy Roddick has revealed that Carlos Alcaraz has shown anything but.
Andy Roddick reveals what he noticed about Carlos Alcaraz’s attitude ahead of the US Open final
Speaking on his Served with Andy Roddick podcast, he shared what his day at the US Open was like to watch the women’s final, won by Aryna Sabalenka.
He claimed: “I was walking into the locker room today, it’s like a ghost town. Right?
“So you get there on day one. It’s just buzzing. It’s a train station. There are 200 players. You’re stepping over people’s laundry, like, people walking in, you’re, kind of like moving, like you side-step, just like avoiding people. You walk in, there’s no one there.”
However, he did bump into a special individual despite the emptiness of it all, as he continued: “I saw Alcaraz, I saw him… I don’t know, 11:30 am, like, getting ready and probably going… I mean, he’s not worried about how he’s hitting the ball. Maybe there’s a couple specific things he wants to work on for this specific matchup, but he doesn’t need to hit much. Like, he doesn’t need to. He’s getting some bodywork done.
“He’s so relaxed, dude. I just envy his confidence.
“Oh, we were just talking, just, like, bull————. I think the world of him, but I walk into the training room, no one’s in there. So he has no choice. He has to talk to me. Like, I’m the only option, besides this guy, but he’s just fantastic.
“He would have gotten in and out of there. It feels like he had a full day in the city, you know, and these guys, the night before matches, like, they want their little routine. You know, they want to eat what they eat and have, you know, their guy count the calories and the electrolytes and, you know, make sure they’re at night by, you know, in their hyperbaric chambers by 10 pm, you know”
Elsewhere, Darren Cahill revealed how Sinner was feeling ahead of the US Open final as well, meaning we now have insight into both players’ mindsets.
Carlos Alcaraz has looked transformed at the US Open this year
This relaxed mindset could mean trouble for Sinner, given how transformed Alcaraz has looked during this US Open run.
In previous Grand Slams, the Spaniard has often been accused of lacking concentration in the early rounds before finding it later in the tournament.
However, in New York, we have seen a supremely focused individual who has carved through all opposition, having reached the final without dropping a single set.
If he remains in this state of focus and plays like he has done all event, it seems unlikely that anybody could stop him.
Alcaraz clearly has all the tools needed to thwart Sinner, as he has done on many occasions over recent years. It will be really intriguing to see whether he can find the right shots at the right time to put the Italian to the sword and steal his US Open crown.
