Carlos Alcaraz has divulged it is his goal to break a big ATP record after reaching a milestone following his tough four-set win over Lorenzo Sonego at the 2024 Australian Open.
The two-time Grand Slam champion defeated world No 46 Sonego 6-4, 6-7(3), 6-3, 7-6(3) to earn a hard-fought second round victory in Melbourne on Thursday.
The world No 2 will face 18-year-old Chinese player Shang Juncheng, the world No 140, in the third round of the Australian Open on Saturday.
Incredibly, it will be Alcaraz’s first match across all professional levels where he will face a player younger than him. The 20-year-old has played 293 matches (including at Challenger and Futures level), with his previous youngest opponent Holger Rune, who is six days older than him.
The Spaniard, who was competing in his 200th match on the main tour in his clash with Sonego, is targeting the record for most matches played on the ATP Tour. Alcaraz, who will turn 21 in May, holds a superb 157-43 (78.5%) match record.
Tennis legend Jimmy Connors tops the list for the most matches played at the top level of the men’s professional circuit with a remarkable 1557. Eight-time major winner Connors also holds the record for the most wins with 1274.
In an interview with former world No 7 Barbara Schett for Eurosport, Alcaraz was told that the match was his 200th as a professional and was asked how many he wants to play in his career.
“Well I think the record right now is 1,200 [and] something right? I will try to catch them, that’s my goal. But right now I am focused on the third round and 300 [wins],” the Spaniard declared.
Alcaraz, who hit a stunning backhand winner around the net post in the fourth set, also spoke about the shot in his discussion with the Austrian.
“I obviously don’t practise it, I just close my eyes and pray to God! He hit that backhand volley, and I just hit it down the line and if it was in, it was pretty good. But if [it wasn’t, at least] I tried. That’s all,” he explained.
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