By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Saturday, March 23, 2024
Carlos Alcaraz is more than a Wimbledon winner.
He's a transformative champion, says Andy Murray.
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Watching world No. 2 Alcaraz express creativity on court turns Miami into Smile-ami putting the sometimes ornery Murray in a happy place.
Indian Wells champion Alcaraz launched his quest for the Sunshine Double sweeping compatriot Roberto Carballes Baena 6-2, 6-1 at the Miami Open tonight to score his seventh straight win.
The two-time gold-medal champion Murray was watching and posted on social media "Watching Alcaraz play tennis makes me smile 😊❤️"
Informed of Murray's tweet, Alcaraz said such praise from a champion "is crazy for me, honestly."
"I think for me it's even better if a legend like Andy say something like this, that he enjoy a lot watching my matches," Alcaraz told the media in Miami. "It's crazy for me, honestly.
"I think he has seen a lot of tennis during his career, a lot of matches, a lot of players.
"See these words from him for me is great. It's something I try to do it in every match."
A crowd-pleasing player wherever he competes, Alcaraz has a massive Miami following as fans remember the young Spaniard stopping Casper Ruud in the 2022 Miami final.
That title match was a prelude to the pair squaring off in the 2022 US Open final. Alcaraz prevailed in Queens, clinching the world No. 1 ranking, becoming the youngest US Open men’s champion since a 19-year-old Pete Sampras beat Andre Agassi in the 1990 final and youngest major champion at any Grand Slam event since a 19-year-old Rafael Nadal at the 2005 Roland Garros.
Alcaraz enjoys engaging with fans and his status as one of tennis' top entertainers.
"Well, it's great," Alcaraz said. "As I say many times, I play for myself, I play for my team. But also I enjoy if the people enjoy watching my matches, my games. For me, it's pretty cool."
Photo credit: Miami Open/Hard Rock Stadium