SUMMARY
- Carlos Alcaraz expresses gratitude for the honor of having his mural unveiled at Indian Wells.
- Fans' reactions to the murals of Alcaraz and Elena Rybakina are mixed, with some expressing disappointment.
In a celebratory ceremony unveiling murals commemorating last year’s champions, two-time Grand Slam winner Carlos Alcaraz expressed his sentiments. The event, held on the grounds of Indian Wells, marked the unveiling of murals dedicated to men’s and women’s singles champions, Carlos Alcaraz and Elena Rybakina, respectively. However, the fans’ reactions to the artwork were mixed, to say the least.
Carlos Alcaraz conveyed his gratitude for the honor, commenting on the significance of returning to the tournament and witnessing the unveiling of his mural. He expressed his favorable opinion of the mural, stating, “It’s a really good mural. I liked the amazing work. I look well hitting the ball.” Despite Alcaraz’s approval, fans held differing opinions upon seeing the murals of both Alcaraz and Rybakina.
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Numerous fans voiced their discontent with the artwork, citing its lack of quality. One fan bluntly stated, “They are both so terrible,” while another expressed disappointment, questioning the choice of the artist despite ample sponsorship funds.
Carlos Alcaraz and Elena Rybakina‘s IW champion murals
byu/LenaRybakina intennis
A third fan humorously compared Alcaraz’s facial features to those of another player, jokingly stating, “It’s like they put Medvedev’s beard with Carlos’s face.” Some interesting reactions from fans on the murals:
Despite the mixed reactions to the murals in Indian Wells, Carlos Alcaraz already boasts a large mural in his hometown of El Palmar, serving as a testament to his considerable influence and popularity. As visitors approach the village, they are greeted by this homage to Alcaraz’s journey, highlighting the local admiration for their homegrown tennis sensation.
Carlos Alcaraz stays resilient amid title drought
Carlos Alcaraz, currently ranked world number two, remains unfazed by the absence of titles since Wimbledon last July. Despite his historic achievement as the youngest men’s world number one after winning the 2022 US Open, he acknowledges feeling the pressure of being marked by his opponents every time he entered the court.
Alcaraz admits, “A lot of players put a target on my back and every time I face them, they show their best level.” However, the young Spaniard feels he has done pretty well after Wimbledon reached the finals in Cincinnati and the semifinals in the US Open last year.
As he prepares to defend his Indian Wells title, Carlos Alcaraz recognizes the weight of expectations placed upon him. He mentions, “A lot of expectation and noises behind me probably is difficult to deal with, but I try not to think about it.” Alcaraz maintains a composed stance regarding the lack of recent titles, stating, “It doesn’t stress me so much not having titles or finals.”
Carlos Alcaraz says he’s 100% focused on defending his Indian Wells title & his ankle is feeling better:
“I’m coming here to defend the title. It’s difficult, there are the best tennis players in the world, some of them are playing great tennis this year. I know it’s going to be… pic.twitter.com/qPdfCkKPID
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) March 7, 2024
Beginning this year with a quarterfinal defeat at the Australian Open and struggling with an ankle injury sustained at the Rio Open, Alcaraz’s primary focus at Indian Wells is to prove his fitness and readiness to return to winning form. Alcaraz remains committed to overcoming challenges and reclaiming his winning momentum on the court.
