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Former world number one Boris Becker has come out in defence of Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz after his early exit from the Qatar Open. The 21-year-old is regarded as one of the best players currently playing in men’s tennis in the singles category, along with the likes of Italy’s Jannik Sinner.
Alcaraz recently suffered a defeat in the quarterfinal of the Qatar Open to Czech Republic’s Jiri Lehecka with a score of 6-3, 3-6, 6-4. After the match, tennis journalist José Morgado, in a post on social media platform X — previously known as Twitter — where he criticised Alcaraz. “Alcaraz was 4-2 40-30 in the 3rd set and five minutes later he lost the match,” he wrote. “The way he completely disappeared from the court for two half sets just cannot happen at this level. And he knows that.”
Former world number one Becker, reposted it and defended Alcaraz’s performance and believes that Spaniard is still very young and can improve in the future. “Carlos is still very young ( 21) , consistency will come with age …but still love his style and charisma!,” he wrote.
The defeat in Doha was a hard pill to swallow for the four-time Grand Slam winner, who came into the competition on the back of an impressive show in Rotterdam, where he lifted the title after beating Australia’s Alex de Minaur in the final with a score of 6-3, 3-6, 6-2.
Alcaraz’s next appearance will be in the Indian Wells. The former world number one has a fabulous record while playing in the competition where he has won back-to-back titles. In 2023, Alcaraz defeated Russia’s Daniil Medvedev in the final in straight sets with a score of 6-3, 6-2. Last year, the El Palmar-born once again Medvedev in the final, once again in straight sets with a score of 7-6, 6-1.
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