Alcaraz, for all against the Sinner: “I like him”

With ATP number one as an increasingly possible goal, Carlos Alcarazwho defeated Marin Cilic in the second round of the US Open on Monday, He made sure that he was trying to abstract himself from that hypothesis which he still thought was too complicated.

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“I can see far away. Although I think I still have two or three games left, I see it as a long way off“, the Spaniard indicated in a press conference, stressing that he “tries not to think” about putting himself at the head of the world ranking and also remembers that the duels that remain for him are “high level” .

“I’m focused on the quarterfinals“, he assured.

The Spaniard, ranked fourth in the ATP at the age of 19, struggled but eventually defeated Cilic 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, 4-6 and 6-3 in a thrilling and epic that match lasted 3 hours and 54 minutes and ended at 2:23 am.

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That’s why Alcaraz kept alive the dream of achieving his first Grand Slam and also left New York as the new number one in the world ranking.

With the elimination of Rafa Nadal in the round of 16, Alcaraz will be the number one winner in the final if he plays it against Casper Ruud (seventh in the world) or remains runner-up until the Norwegian wins the title.

If Alcaraz or Ruud can’t do their part, Nadal will be number one replaced the Russian Daniil Medvedev.

Regardless of the calculations for ATP classification, Alcaraz will have another tough test in the quarterfinals against Italian Jannik Sinner, world number 13 and defeated Belarusian Ilya Ivashka in five sets.

The sinner beat Alcaraz both times they met this year: the final in Umag and the Wimbledon round of 16.

“I like him (…). I’m a competitive guy. I want to face him again, to show my level and my game and return for all. Hopefully the third time will be a charm,” said Alcaraz, who will be looking for his first semifinals at a Grand Slam against Sinner.

Regarding his grueling match against Cilic, Alcaraz said he did not remember finishing a match last and insisted that, after losing the fourth set, the key to winning the fifth was to “believe in yourself”.

“I know that I will have opportunities, that I have to be there, pushed all the time, keeping the level“, he explained.

In addition, Alcaraz emphasized that winning a match as difficult as this gives him “confidence” knowing that he is fine “tenistically, physically and mentally.”

The young player thanked all the New York fans who stayed until midnight to support him in the stands.

“Without them it would not be possible to win today“, held.