Alcaraz, Davidovich and the eternal golden age: five Spaniards in the Top30

• Godó Tommy Robredo's desired goodbye: "I got what I deserved"

"My idol is

. I want to be like him because he trains very hard, he sacrifices a lot and he really wants to play games,"

assured in 2016, the first time a television camera approached him.

"I have seen the great moments of Rafa Nadal and his victories and I thought that I wish I could one day be the one to experience that,"

repeated just last week, in the jubilation before his final at the Masters 1000 in Monte Carlo.

Rafa Nadal as an example, Rafa Nadal as an inspiration, Rafa Nadal as a teacher.

The generation that grew up with the 21-time Grand Slam champion has already settled into the elite and, after some seasons with gray prospects, Spanish tennis can celebrate that, thanks to them, its golden age continues.

This week, for the first time in five years, the country has five representatives in the top 30 of the ATP rankings, a success that no other place can boast of.

Davidovich's rise to 27th place certifies the good moment, with Nadal (4th), Alcaraz (11th),

(18th) and

(19th) as fixed, and if the young man had won the Monegasque title the almost impossible would have been trodden.

In that case, once again there would be five Spaniards in the world Top 20, something that only Nadal,

and

achieved in 2012.

A Godó of candy

This Monday Davidovich gave up competing this week at the Godó due to accumulated fatigue, but the tournament in Barcelona will also serve to celebrate the sweet moment.

Also without Nadal, recovering from his rib injury, the compatriots who accompany him among the best in the world have the opportunity to shine on the court that receives his name.

There is Carreño, semifinalist last year, who debuts this Wednesday against

.

And there is above all Alcaraz, the main attraction of the tournament.

They show off the best streets of Barcelona with his face as a hook, he is already the new star, and that is why a packed house is expected this Wednesday in the upper area of ​​the city to see him against

, whom he has never faced.

His path in the tournament will be complicated, with

, the favourite, a finalist last year, as a possible rival in the quarterfinals, but it doesn't matter.

There is a desire, a lot of desire, for Alcaraz.

"I feel very supported. People are very fond of me and that makes me very happy. It is important that the public encourages you, that it is behind you," he commented in the preview, where he also assessed his options.

Last year he received an invitation to play the tournament and ended up losing in the first round against

.

Now the ambition is different: "This year I am a more established player on the circuit. I feel better and more prepared. I come with more options. The draw doesn't matter. I have to focus on the first round because all the rivals are tough. If I don't focus I can fall soon as it happened to me in Monte Carlo".

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• Carlos Alcaraz

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