Carlos Alcaraz has plenty of positives to build on since returning to the Tour, but admits he still has work to do to reach his desired level.

The seven-time Grand Slam champion missed almost five months of the Tour earlier this season due to a right wrist injury. He started his comeback with a run to the quarter-finals of the US Open, where he was beaten in a five-set thriller by Ben Shelton. Alcaraz went on to win the Japan Open by dropping two sets in five matches played. However, he then suffered a shock third round loss at the Shanghai Masters to Zizou Bergs.

Alcaraz’s attention now switches to this week’s Vienna Open, which he has entered via a wild card. He was originally due to play in Saudi Arabia’s Six Kings Slam before the event was postponed to December because of security concerns in the region.

“I’m practising well and I’m feeling really well. Obviously the consistency of playing such great tennis, doing week after week or doing the whole, is a goal for me right now,” Alcaraz told Tennis TV.

“I would say my level is good. It is a good level, but not my best, and not the way I want to be. So I’m working on it. I’m working hard in every practice.

“It’s a long process, step by step, but I think I’m doing the right steps.”

Alcaraz is playing in Vienna for only the second time in his career. In 2021, at 18, he reached the semi-finals, becoming the third-youngest player to reach that stage of the tournament. Only Stefan Edberg and Roger Federer have managed to do so at a younger age than him.

The Spaniard has won 26 of his 27 ATP titles since last playing in Vienna and has held the No.1 ranking for 66 weeks.

“Five years, it’s been a really long journey for me, doing great things on and off the court,” he reflected.

” I’m just happy and proud about everything I’ve done during these five years.

“Hopefully, from now to the next five years, I’m going to be another player and hopefully be better.”

Regardless of how well he finishes the season, Alcaraz will not be able to deny Alexander Zverev the year-end No.1 ranking for the first time. He has won four of his last five meetings against the German, including their clash in this year’s Australian Open.

Speaking about Zverev during his pre-tournament press conference on Monday, Alcaraz has nothing but praise for him.

“In tennis, it’s not just about stepping onto the court and playing your best tennis on one particular day,” he commented.

“It’s also about the consistency you show throughout the entire year. He has won two Grand Slam titles this year. I’m happy for him because I know how hard he has worked and how long he has been pursuing this goal. He absolutely deserves it.”

Alcaraz is currently 33-5 this season and is yet to lose a match at an ATP 500 event (11-0). In Vienna, he has a tricky opening match against Karen Khachanov. The Russian was a semi-finalist at the US Open and has reached the quarter-finals in two out of three tournaments played since then.

The match is set for Tuesday.