{"id":2149893,"date":"2026-09-17T17:00:15","date_gmt":"2026-09-17T14:00:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2149893"},"modified":"2026-09-17T17:00:15","modified_gmt":"2026-09-17T14:00:15","slug":"carlos-alcaraz-praised-as-unicorn-as-kim-clijsters-warns-of-tennis-sharks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2149893","title":{"rendered":"Carlos Alcaraz praised as &#8216;unicorn&#8217; as Kim Clijsters warns of tennis &#8216;sharks&#8217;"},"content":{"rendered":"<article class=\"ps-article-content rounded-lg lg:mt-5 lg:border lg:border-card lg:bg-card lg:shadow-primary\">\n<header>\n<h1 class=\"py-4 text-xl font-normal text-title sm:text-2xl\">Carlos Alcaraz praised as \u2018unicorn\u2019 as Kim Clijsters warns of tennis \u2018sharks\u2019<\/h1>\n<div class=\"my-2 flex items-center justify-between\">\n<div class=\"flex items-center\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/author\/richie-mills\" class=\"text-sm font-normal !text-author\"><br \/>\n                            Richie Mills                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <time class=\"ml-3 text-sm font-normal text-info md:ml-4\" datetime=\"17 Sep 2026 6:00 PM\" data-ps-date=\"17 Sep 2026 6:00 PM\" data-ps-datetime=\"1789664415\"><br \/>\n                            17 Sep 2026 6:00 PM                        <\/time>\n                    <\/div>\n<div class=\"hidden justify-end space-x-4 text-xl sm:flex sm:!opacity-100\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/google.com\/preferences\/source?q=tennis365.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\"><br \/>\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"mx-auto !my-0 hidden dark:block h-6\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/content\/themes\/tennis365-sportsui\/img\/png\/preferred_source_badge_dark.png\" alt=\"Add as a preferred source on Google\" width=\"76\" height=\"24\"><br \/>\n                    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class=\"sm:hidden flex items-center space-x-5\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/google.com\/preferences\/source?q=tennis365.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\"><br \/>\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"mx-auto !my-0 hidden dark:block h-6\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/content\/themes\/tennis365-sportsui\/img\/png\/preferred_source_badge_dark.png\" alt=\"Add as a preferred source on Google\" width=\"76\" height=\"24\"><br \/>\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"mx-auto !my-0 dark:hidden h-6\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/content\/themes\/tennis365-sportsui\/img\/png\/preferred_source_badge_light.png\" alt=\"Add as a preferred source on Google\" width=\"76\" height=\"24\"><br \/>\n                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <button id=\"t365-article-share-btn-hidden\" class=\"mr-2 hidden h-6 w-6 appearance-none border-none !text-share-icon outline-none hover:!text-share-icon-active sm:hidden\" data-title=\"Carlos Alcaraz praised as \u2018unicorn\u2019 as Kim Clijsters warns of tennis \u2018sharks\u2019\"><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/button>\n                    <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"-mx-3 sm:-mx-5 border-b border-page\"><\/div>\n<section>\n<div class=\"-mx-3 sm:-mx-5\">\n<figure class=\"aspect-h-9 aspect-w-16 relative\">\n                                        <img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1320\" height=\"742\" loading=\"eager\" class=\"w-full h-full object-cover object-center !my-0\" src=\"https:\/\/d2me2qg8dfiw8u.cloudfront.net\/content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Carlos-Alcaraz-with-inset-of-Kim-Clijsters-1320x742.jpg\" alt=\"Pictured: Carlos Alcaraz with inset of Kim Clijsters\">                <\/figure><figcaption class=\"flex items-center space-x-3 border-b border-mobile-caption px-3 lg:border-caption\">\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"my-1.5 break-words !text-xs !text-content\">\n                                Carlos Alcaraz with former world No 1 Kim Clijsters inset                            <\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<div class=\"ciam-article-t365\"><!-- Article Start --><\/p>\n<p>Kim Clijsters is hopeful that tennis\u2019 \u201csharks\u201d will not extinguish <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/carlos-alcaraz\">Carlos Alcaraz<\/a>\u2019s joy following his return to the sport.<\/p>\n<p>Many feared for the Spaniard when he skipped Cincinnati but confirmed he would compete at the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/us-open\">US Open<\/a> after more than four months out with a wrist injury.<\/p>\n<p>The 23-year-old looked a bit rusty in the mixed doubles with Serena Williams but impressed as the singles tournament wore on at Flushing Meadows.<\/p>\n<p>The seven-time major winner finally met his match in Ben Shelton in the quarter-finals, as the American came through a five-set thriller that finished at 3.30am.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/carlos-alcaraz\">Alcaraz<\/a> was spotted throwing up into his towel during the match as his time away from the game appeared to catch up with him. And while many would have been despondent after his agonising loss to Shelton in a final set tiebreak, the world No 3 was all smiles.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>More Tennis News<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p class=\"py-4 text-xl font-normal text-title sm:text-2xl\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-news\/kim-clijsters-ben-shelton-grand-slam-prediction-us-open-final\"><strong>Kim Clijsters makes Ben Shelton Grand Slam prediction after US Open final run<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"py-4 text-xl font-normal text-title sm:text-2xl\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-news\/ignacio-buse-serious-heat-us-open-champion-elena-rybakina\"><strong>Ignacio Buse faces \u2018serious heat\u2019 after telling claim about US Open champion Elena Rybakina<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Want more from Tennis365? Add us as<span>\u00a0<\/span><a rel=\"noopener nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=tennis365.com\" target=\"_blank\">a preferred source on Google to your favourites list<\/a><span>\u00a0<\/span>for tennis coverage you can trust.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Indeed, tennis journalist\u00a0Blair Henley summed up what makes Alcaraz almost unique, describing him as tennis\u2019 \u201cunicorn\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>She said on <a rel=\"noopener nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=PuWPCx_cqws\" target=\"_blank\">Love All<\/a>, \u201cThat picture of him walking out the Arthur Ashe tunnel after a heartbreaking loss, at 3.30am, and having a full blown smile on his face. We usually see people walking through that hallway with towels over their heads, or their head down to their chest.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHis chin was up, full smile, proceeds to have one of the most positive press huddles afterwards. It gives me chills thinking about it. What a gift he is to the sport of tennis and just the fact that is how he operates throughout the entire tournament.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-media-max-width=\"560\">\n<p>Carlos Alcaraz leaving the U.S. Open with a smile on his face after losing a heartbreaker at 3:30 am.<\/p>\n<p>You have to respect this guy. \ud83d\udc94 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/26C7DO8cky\">pic.twitter.com\/26C7DO8cky<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/TheTennisLetter\/status\/2097590365650100697?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">September 9, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Henley added,\u00a0\u201cWalking through the halls, his head is up, he is saying hello to everyone that walks by. That I cannot stress is exceedingly rare in tennis. Once you get to a certain stratosphere of fame\u2026 hood up, head down, insolated, people around you and he is just the opposite of that. A total unicorn.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Former world No 1 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/kim-clijsters\">Clijsters<\/a> was in agreement with her co-host, while saying she hopes that Alcaraz\u2019s positivity doesn\u2019t fade with time.<\/p>\n<p>The four-time Grand Slam winner said,\u00a0\u201cFor him and his team especially, it\u2019s going to be so important to protect that. Because you have the sharks on tour who try to take stuff from you.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s going to be so important for him to keep that joy because it can go away at times. So to have that after not being on tour for a few months is great to see.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>It is not certain who these \u201csharks\u201d are. Perhaps other parties that are looking to cash-in on Alcaraz. But with his team, it seems not much will go wrong for him.<\/p>\n<p><strong>READ NEXT:\u00a0<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-news\/alexander-zverev-ranking-jannik-sinner-world-no1-spot-carlos-alcaraz\"><strong>Alexander Zverev in line to oust Jannik Sinner from world No 1 spot and Carlos Alcaraz can do nothing<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p><!-- Article End --><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Carlos Alcaraz praised as \u2018unicorn\u2019 as Kim Clijsters warns of tennis \u2018sharks\u2019 Richie Mills 17 Sep 2026 6:00 PM Carlos Alcaraz with former world No 1 Kim Clijsters inset Kim Clijsters is hopeful that tennis\u2019 \u201csharks\u201d will not extinguish Carlos Alcaraz\u2019s joy following his return to the sport. Many feared for the Spaniard when he [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,249],"class_list":["post-2149893","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-tennis365-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2149893","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2149893"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2149893\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2149893"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2149893"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2149893"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}