Carlos Alcaraz particulars awkward raise encounter with Maria Sharapova

Carlos Alcaraz has given particulars of the awkward second he met five-time Grand Slam champion Maria Sharapova in a raise on the Canadian Open. The 20-year-old, who gained the Wimbledon title final month after defeating Novak Djokovic within the last, was in “shock” on the encounter and wasn’t initially certain whether or not the particular person he was standing subsequent to was in actual fact the previous Russian star.

“I watch her, you know, a lot of matches,” Alcatraz defined. “She was a great tennis player. She was probably one of the best player in the world. And I was in shock because I didn’t expect her to be here in Toronto. And she was first in the lift and it was, she is Maria or no? You know what I mean?

“But it was great to meet her and know that she’s going really well and, you know, she’s life right now. And talk a little bit with her – it was really nice.”

Alcaraz started his Canadian Open in type as he defeated Ben Shelton 6-3, 7-6 within the second spherical. The Spaniard is ready to tackle Hubert Hurkacz within the third spherical as he goes searching for his seventh event victory of the 12 months.

Alcaraz, who gained his first Grand Slam title on the age of 19 ultimately 12 months’s US Open, was an unknown amount on grass only a mere few months in the past. But the younger ace overcame Alex de Minaur within the last of the Queen’s Club Championship in June earlier than lastly placing an finish to Djokovic’s run of 4 straight Wimbledon titles three weeks later.

And after dispatching the Serbian on the All England Club, the participant mentioned: “It’s a dream come true for me. Making history in this beautiful tournament, playing a final against a legend of our sport – for me it’s incredible. It’s amazing for a boy like me, 20 years old, to reach this kind of situation.”

Sharapova, in the meantime, grew to become a family title in tennis when she gained the Wimbledon title as a 17-year-old in 2004. The proficient star went on to win the US Open, the Australian Open and two French Opens.

She retired in 2020 on the age of 32 and advised followers: “How do you leave behind the only life you’ve ever known? How do you walk away from the courts you’ve trained on since you were a little girl, the game that you love – one which brought you untold tears and unspeakable joys – a sport where you found a family, along with fans who rallied behind you for more than 28 years? I’m new to this, so please forgive me. Tennis – I’m saying goodbye.”