‘More grand slams’: Carlos Alcaraz already has sights set on 2023 glory after US Open triumph over Hingis
Carlos Alcaraz has already set his sights on becoming the oldest man ever to win a grand slam title.
The 32-year-old Argentine beat American Hingis 5-7 6-4 6-4 6-3 to win his first grand slam title at the US Open.
Alcaraz, who reached the final in Rome in 2014 as a 21-year-old, won his first tournament of the year at a warm-up event last year in Mallorca before going the whole nine at Wimbledon.
He will now play in a fourth grand slam final of the year and his first after losing in the group phase at the Australian Open.
He said: “I started my year thinking that it’s not going to stop, that the year was going to keep going and now I want to get through to the other side.”
Ahead of the tournament he said: “Of course I want to win this title but I think I have a chance.
“After every tournament you have to get mentally stronger and the first point of every tournament you always have to think that you are just as well as you can be and there’s a lot of people who want to beat you.”
Alcaraz also said the loss of his mother to cancer in 2017 was a big factor in his title winning run.
He said: “I wanted to have another challenge which I couldn’t win but I will win this title, that’s for sure.”
Andy Murray added: “We’re in a good place at the moment, he’s absolutely brilliant, he’s in the top eight, top half of the draw.
“His first match is against some very good players.”
Rafael Nadal was also impressed with Alcaraz’s performance in the final.
He said: “I don’t understand why he lost the first set and I don�