Carlos Alcaraz's opponent knew that the Spaniard was "not normal" when he first saw him as a teen (Image: Getty)
Carlos Alcaraz will face Roberto Carballes Baena at the Miami Open.
Carlos Alcaraz will open his Miami Open campaign against a familiar face in Roberto Carballes Baena. The world No. 64 has known the two-time Major winner since he was a “skinny” 15-year-old. And he claimed that he knew Alcaraz was “not normal” from the moment he saw the young Spaniard.
Carlos Alcaraz will be seeking his seventh win in a row when he begins his Miami campaign this weekend. The world No. 2 comes into the tournament fresh off the back of defending his Indian Wells title, ending his eight-month trophy drought.
After receiving a bye into the second round, he will face countryman Carballes Baena for the first time. While they have never met on the match court, Alcaraz knows his rival very well. 30-year-old Carballes Baena first saw the 13-time title winner in his home of Murcia five years ago when he was a “skinny” teenager.
Although there were some concerns about how Alcaraz would fare physically, the world No. 64 knew that his talent was extraordinary. Reflecting on his first memories of the 20-year-old, Carballes Baena told the ATP: “I saw Carlitos play for the first time in Murcia. He was about 15 years old and the court was packed.
“Yes, he seemed very skinny and lacked physically, but he had a ball speed that was not normal for someone his age and we did see a different mentality in him.” The two-time title winner still didn’t expect to see Alcaraz reach the top of the game so soon.
“And then the progression that he has had surprised me, because I thought that he was going to suffer physically, but in a short time he reached a very high level,” he continued. “Carlitos is still the same one I met when he was 15 years old. He is super simple, friendly and always with a smile, he hasn’t changed much.”
Carballes Baena also has some experience in facing Alcaraz in another sport – golf. The world No. 2 is a talented golfer and the 30-year-old has been able to beat him in the past. It’s a feeling he’s hoping to recreate on the match court.
“I hope that this Saturday he comes out a little scared and pressured by having to improve his record against me,” the world No. 64 joked.
