With a smile from ear to ear, with the joy of the boy who has just won his idol. This is how Carlos Alcaraz appeared in the press conference after his victory against Rafa Nadal. The Murcian, who is already number six in the world, is already thinking about tomorrow’s game against Novak Djokovic, where he hopes his ankle is in good condition. These are the words of ‘Carlitos’ after the game.
It feels: “Excitement, a lot. Few players can say that they have beaten Rafa on clay, I feel lucky to be one of them. Super happy about it”.
Locker room: “It was a difficult second set, I sprained my ankle and it bothered me when I played. But it wasn’t a reason to do that second set, I got carried away and didn’t play the match. Going to the bathroom helped me, I thought.’ Charlie, if you’re not going to retire, fight until the last ball.’
Chat with your team: “I haven’t talked much with them. We’re putting everything in the pan to recover for tomorrow and be 100%. I don’t know if it’s the best day of my life, one of the best for sure.”
Last point: “The big games have to be closed in the best possible way. I don’t know if it was luck, because the recovery thought it was going away and Rafa made it easy for me, but I am very happy to be able to close the game in the first ball. It’s more difficult and with Rafa in front, who can take a spectacular hit at any moment”.
Rafa tired: “Honestly, I didn’t feel it, I felt like he was 100% in the third set.”
Ankle: “For now I’m going to say that it’s fine, I’m going to do everything in my power to recover it and so that tomorrow it’s not 100%, but 200%.”
Match against Djokovic: “He is one of the best in history for me. Everything he has achieved for tennis is incredible and admirable. I am already there, I have already experienced difficult moments. It is not the first time that I am going to play in a big stadium “I’m going to start the way I started today. There will be nerves, but I’m going to try to manage them well and I know I have my chance. Training against him helps me know how to approach the game. His game is different from Rafa’s, but at a emotion is going to be the same as today. I’m going to try to leave without thinking that he’s one of the best in history, I’m going to play to win, which is my essence. We’ll see what happens from there”.
Evolution: “I would tell Carlos from a few years ago that he’s crazy. It’s the work I’ve been doing, I feel very proud to know that the work I’ve been doing is giving results.”
Victory to be remembered: “Without a doubt, there are always victories and moments that you will not forget in life. I have moments like Tsitsipas’s at the US Open, and I will also remember this moment for the rest of my life.”
The best of the care you receive: “It’s not easy to play in front of so many personalities, but I try not to think about it and focus on the game. The best thing is that they know me, that they follow my game. But it’s complicated at the same time”
Responsibility: “It feels good to hear praise and good words, I don’t feel like I have a responsibility to win games. I know I’m playing well, but I don’t think I have to win every game and every tournament, I focus on every game and work.”
Fastest Player: “I don’t know if I am, probably, but I don’t want to say I’m one of the fastest. I don’t know.”
Last service: “I always think that in important moments you have to go for it. I served very well, Rafa returned and I went to the net for the point. I think about going for it, if I fail, at least I went for it” .