The assertion that Carlos Alcaraz's trainers attempted to teach him a one-handed backhand when he was a child was refuted by the world No. 1 in gracious fashion.
The US Open 2023 reigning champion Alcaraz faced Dominik Koepfer in a thrilling first-round match. Koepfer left the game due to an ankle injury, and the Serbian moved on to the next round.
When Koepfer withdrew from the competition, Alcaraz had a 6-2, 3-2 lead. As the Spaniard confessed, he didn't aim to win in such a way, but was happy with his performance, the incident drew conflicting views.
When questioned about the rumored one-handed backhand, Alcaraz responded, "I don't think it's true. I always liked trying new things when I was younger. One of the things I practiced in just one day was the one-handed backhand. I enjoyed trying out new shots and moves on the court. I probably watched Roger Federer's match on that particular day and attempted to mimic him.
Alcaraz wants to defend his US Open singles championship and be the first person since Roger Federer to do it. The match he will have with Lloyd Harris of South Africa is very important.
The 20-year-old Spanish player continued by saying that his first-round US Open performance had satisfied him. He is counting on keeping up this rhythm in the upcoming rounds. Alcaraz said about the Arthur Ashe Stadium, "This is a court that I love playing on, and I saw the same kind of excitement level I experienced last year.Â
