Massive week for Alcaraz and Rahm
Spaniards look to win the “fifth major” of their respective disciplines.
Both Jon Rahm and Carlos Alcaraz are coming off disappointing weeks and look to right the ship in this week’s so-called majors (Indian Wells ends on the 19th). Carlitos withdrew from Acapulco after suffering a hamstring strain during his defeat to Cameron Norrie at Rio, meanwhile, Jon finished T39 after three consecutive 72+ rounds of golf at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
ATP’s number 2 player in the world will start his hard-court season playing against a qualifier or American Brandon Holt, who received a wildcard, after having a BYE on the first round. Matches like this will proof vital for what should come as a slow adaptation to a different surface — Alcaraz won the title in Argentina and then lost in Rio’s final, both played on clay.
His road to the final at Indian Wells could yield a series of entertaining matches along the way. A battle against Felix Auger-Aliassime in the quarters, for example, or versus Holger Rune or Taylor Fritz (defending champ) in the semifinals, perhaps even a head-to-head with the likes of Daniil Medvedev, who just last week ended Novak Djokovic’s win streak at 20 by taking care of the Serbian in two sets, in the decider.
But we are looking waaaay ahead. Alcaraz is coming off an injury, remember?
Lifting the trophy at California would mean a return to the pole position for the 19-year-old, since Novak couldn’t obtain an exemption as an unvaccinated player and won’t be competing. By February’s end, the Djoker established yet another record when he became the first person in Earth’s history to occupy the number one slot for 378 weeks, surpassing Steffi Graff’s 377.
Hunger will certainly fuel Alcaraz’ determination in search of another Masters 1000 title, especially considering the circumstances in which he lost to Norrie a couple of weeks ago. A semifinalist last year, after losing to fellow countryman, Rafa Nadal, in three sets, Carlitos will require perfect tenis and form is he is to prevail. Here’s hoping that the right leg holds.
On the golf front, Rahm will try to overcome his demons at TPC Sawgrass for his first Players victory. So far, the Barrika native hasn’t been himself at this event, with a single top-10 finish in five starts. Last year, Jon carded a final-round 77 that dropped him all the way to 55th place.
As is the case with Alcaraz, Rahm has a chance for redemption in the next few days. Having already won three tournaments this season — The American Express, The Genesis Invitational and the Sentry Tournament of Champions — , the number one golfer in the world wishes nothing more than to lift the trophy this weekend and bring home those $4.5 million dollars (take that LIV Golf!!).
To do so he’ll have to play his best brand of golf, since everybody and their mom is traveling to California. The field includes 44 of the 50 highest ranked golfers around the globe (the remaining six play on that other league or whatever it is). Among the favorites are Rory McIlroy, who finished T2 at the API, Justin Thomas, a winner of the event two years ago, Scottie Scheffler, and a plethora of men with the tools to pull it off.
“I love courses where you go to where nobody has been able to assert a dominance, right? I think that speaks a lot to the design and speaks to the fact that the best player wins,” said the Arizona State product on today’s press conference.
One could argue that neither Alcaraz nor Rahm will face the best there is, since Djokovic is out and The Players will be held without many of the defectors for the very first time — including reigning champion Cam Smith. That is none of their business, however.
Rahmbo had five world wide victories and nine top-ten finishes in the same number of tourneys before the Arnold Palmer Invitational, but none would be as sweet as winning this week at a course that hasn’t treated him well. Hitting the fairways is key at TPC Sawgrass, so is putting well, and he will be the first to point that out.
Two ‘majors’ will be played on American soil and two Spaniards have a massive opportunity to bring their names to the forefront once again. When is all said and done, Spain might have a couple of men atop their respective disciplines and it will certainly be interesting to follow.
Redemption awaits.
