Carlos Alcaraz is preparing an intense off-season training block as he bids to try and topple Novak Djokovic in 2024. The world No 2 will not be playing an official tournament until the Australian Open, giving himself 35 days to work on his fitness and his tennis. After dealing with some physical setbacks in 2023, Alcaraz’s team are hoping to build up his durability so he doesn’t suffer any dips next season.
Alcaraz had a successful start to 2023, winning six titles between February and July, including Wimbledon, where he beat Djokovic in the final. It was the only match that the world No 1 lost at a Major all year and marked Djokovic’s first defeat on Centre Court in a decade.
But the Spaniard was unable to lift another title in the second half of the year, suffering some early exits at the Shanghai and Paris Masters. He is now bidding to come back stronger in 2024 so he can keep preventing Djokovic from winning big titles. In his quest, Alcaraz’s team have planned an intense off-season training block lasting 35 days, according to Marca.
The 20-year-old recently returned from a holiday, where his physiotherapist Alberto Lledo had already been setting him some goals. And the real work now begins for Alcaraz, who is said to be spending two-and-a-half weeks on his fitness before turning his attention to his tennis.
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“On Thursday we already sent him some isometry and jogging work so that his body begins to adapt to what is coming. We know that he has done things during his vacation, that he has played and had fun,” Lledo told Marca.
Alcaraz also has some exhibitions in his diary, facing Djokovic in Saudi Arabia on December 27 before travelling straight home to Murcia for a match against Roberto Bautista Agut the following day. The Spaniard is set to combine his fitness and tennis work from the week of Dec 25 before turning his full attention to the practice court.
Alcaraz’s physio explained why it was crucial to build up the Spaniard’s strength. Lledo continued: “It is key to control Carlos’s health so that we do not miss anything. Any work that is done involves injury prevention. The first two weeks the objective is to improve the basic physical qualities of both strength and cardio and give him the fuel that you need for the whole year.
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“When you play tennis you don’t lose your cardiovascular level, but you do lose your strength, so you have to work on it day by day, even in the competition itself, even if it’s just in the warm-up.”
Alcaraz has already outlined some of his goals for 2024, admitting that he wanted to lead the younger generation in stopping Djokovic. “He has shown that he is more than ready to win all four Grand Slams in 2024, but I am here to try to stop him. Me and the rest of the great players who are qualified to go and beat him,” the two-time Major winner said during an exhibition in Mexico two weeks ago.
The Spaniard also knows that he must be physically and mentally prepared to last for the whole season, especially with the Olympics being squeezed in between Wimbledon and the North American hard-court summer. He added: “I must grow next year. Realise that the season continues until November. I have worked with a psychologist who has helped me. 2024 will be a demanding year, with the Olympic Games after Wimbledon. I will work hard to give a medal to my country.”
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