By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Wednesday, May 3, 2023
Madrid's Magic Box can be more than a Masters stage.
Reigning champion Carlos Alcaraz aims to turn the place into a launching pad for his tennis dream.
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The top-seeded Alcaraz was asked to share his ultimate tennis aim after he conquered Karen Khachanov 6-4, 7-5 to reach his second straight Mutua Madrid Open semifinals.
Alcaraz aspires to attain tennis immortality.
The 19-year-old Spanish phenom said he dreams of becoming an iconic champion.
"Well, my dream on tennis right now is to become one of the best tennis players in history," said Alcaraz, who celebrates his 20th birthday on Friday. "I know that this is a big dream, probably is too big.
"But in this world, you have to dream big and you have to think big, as well."
Reigning US Open champion Alcaraz made history in Madrid last year becoming the first man to defeat Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic in succession at the same clay-court tournament.
Now, Alcaraz aims to join the Big 3 champions as one of the game's all-time greats.
"I want to be part of the best tennis players in history and I will work for it," Alcaraz said.
Alcaraz already owns one of the most complete games in the sport. His coach, former world No. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero, said after the 2022 US Open Alcaraz has not yet scratched the surface of his full potential.
"As I tell him, I think he's on 60% of his game," Ferrero said last September. "He can improve a lot of things. He knows and I know that we have to keep working.
"Once to get to the No. 1, it's not done and you go. You have to keep working, keep playing at a huge level on that tournaments to keep winning. He knows that and I know that. I'm going to be very close from him to remember him."
Some opponents say the Spanish superstar already combines the best of the Big 3 in his all-court skill set. Ferrero has great expectations for Alcaraz.
"I have the goal to put him on the high level of tennis," Ferrero said. "Of course, I think it's going to be very, very difficult to achieve what they have done on tennis. We're talking about 22 Grand Slams. He has only one. Is a long way still to go."
Photo credit: Banc Sabadell Barcelona Open