Carlos Alcaraz arrives at Roland Garros with the favorite label after winning in Barcelona and Madrid. The Murcian makes his debut on Monday on the Parisian clay and took it naturally, satisfied with the performance he has offered so far. Djokovic and Medvedev aim to be his two main rivals in a Grand Slam marked by Nadal’s loss to injury. A reference for anyone who dreams of lifting the Cup of the Musketeers.
His dream: “It’s a dream to play with Rafa Nadal in doubles at the Olympic Games. I hope he is okay by then. It will be great”.
The favorite tag: “It’s amazing to be seeded in a Grand Slam, but I don’t feel the pressure to be number one anymore. I was clear about what I came for. I didn’t say I was the favorite but it’s true that I put myself on that list. There are many other players capable of winning it as well.”
The absence of Christmas: “With Rafa there, it’s more difficult to win but I’m not afraid of anyone. I also don’t feel pressure anymore because now they look at me more than before. It hurts me to know that Nadal is not going to Paris. As a fan, I always enjoy watching him play. This is one of the best ever. Learning from this type of tennis player is important and it will be difficult without him. I hope he can come back next year.”
Comparing Rafa at his age: “I don’t know if I was stronger than him then. It was a different time. He did great things at my age but it’s hard for me to compare ourselves.”
more mature: “It’s crazy to see me at number one before a Grand Slam. I’m better mentally, I feel like I can read what’s going on on the track better and I think that’s the big difference. In the beginning when I played against the best, it was hard to be calm. I remember those moments when I faced Rafa for the first time in Madrid. But I always wanted to be in these kinds of stages and now I feel better.
His work after Rome: “I spent a few days on vacation, doing nothing. Quality time with family and friends. I also played golf.
Previous injuries: “It’s hard to accept how 2022 ended because I couldn’t play in the Nitto ATP Finals or especially in Australia. It was a tournament I wanted to play because I thought I had a chance to get a good result. The injury was a setback, but I remained optimistic all the time and I think it helped me to better prepare for the rest of the season”.
Source: La Verdad
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