Carlos Alcaraz is already at the Miami Open 2026 eager to give a lot of battle. The Murcian already knows his opponent in the debut: none other than Joao Fonseca, in a match that is anticipated to be absolutely sensational, a clash of deadly forehands and an opportunity to consolidate his status against what may be one of the competitors to consider for the future. However, there is a factor that will play fully in favor of the Brazilian: the support of the crowd and the Brazilian public.
If there is a great tournament on the circuit where the Latin American fans make themselves known, that is Miami. Total vibrancy every time a member of that part of the world appears on the court, Joao is a mass idol who has even prompted James Blake, the tournament director, to always place him on the Center Court. No one more aware of the potential and passion for this sport of the Latin American public than Carlos Alcaraz, who experienced it firsthand during several seasons when he was a regular on the South American clay-court tour.
Champion in Rio (his first ATP 500, back in 2022) and also in Buenos Aires (which he conquered several times), Carlitos' presence generated special attention and interest in two tournaments that now seem to struggle to maintain their status on the calendar. Amid rumors of restructuring and even a possible surface change, with the news of the possible purchase of ATP and the Saudi sovereign fund acquiring licenses with the aim of hosting the next Masters 1000 in Saudi Arabia, the future of the tour hangs by a thread... and few better ambassadors than Alcaraz to show the world its richness and necessity.

How does Alcaraz see the future of the South American clay-court tour? This is what he said in the preview of the Miami Open 2026
Asked by our friends from Todo Sobre Tenis about the viability and future of the tour, Carlos took a moment to reflect on his experience in South America, highlighting the special vibe of the fans and confirming that what he experienced in places like Rio or Buenos Aires holds a special place in his heart. "The South American tour is lovely, although also very, very tough, due to the schedule, the weather, all of it... but it's lovely.
People are highly involved in tennis, the fans are incredible, they gave me a lot of support, something fantastic. We'll see if it continues: personally, it's a tour that I would like to experience again. It's going through a tough moment, yes. I've heard several players, especially South Americans, saying that it shouldn't be changed and that the surfaces shouldn't be altered. When I went there, I loved it. To those players who haven't been, I'd say that at least once in their lives they should experience that. The truth is, it's one of the most beautiful experiences I've had in terms of tours", Carlitos remarked with a big smile. Perhaps his return now seems challenging, due to his mid-term commitment to the Rotterdam tournament, but still, the Murcian had no doubts in defending the tournaments on the other side of the globe and requesting that their essence be preserved. Do you agree with him?
Cette actualité est une traduction automatique. Vous pouvez lire la nouvelle originale Alcaraz defiende a la gira de tierra sudamericana: "Es una de las experiencias más bonitas que he vivido"

