Carlos Alcaraz prepares the Australian Open preview with Pablo Carreño

The young Murcian tennis player Carlos Alcaraz prepares with his training partner and friend, the Asturian Pablo Carreño, his participation in the preliminary phase of the Australian Open as the best ranked Spaniard, as posted on his Twitter account.

At 17 years old, the number 141 in the world and the only minor among the 473 first of that classification, will be present in Doha, capital of Qatar, where that preliminary phase of the Australian tournament will begin, on the first occasion in which a Grand Slam starts in a different country.

The one from El Palmar aspires to achieve from the 10th to the 13th of this month his classification to continue playing next in Melbourne.

There will be 16 places available in that preview for the final draw and 128 players who opt for them.

The Murcian will have in Doha to 23 players better ranked than him, the first of whom is Belarusian Ilya Ivashka, 108th in the world.

For Alcaraz will be the second appearance in a Grand Slam tournament after making his debut with defeat in qualifying at Roland Garros 2020 against Australian Aleksandar Vukic 4-6, 7-6 (5) and 6-3 on September 21.