Alcaraz: "I’m not afraid to say I can win a Grand Slam this year"

It’s 7pm on Sunday, local time. Almost four hours after becoming the youngest champion of Miami ATP Masters 1000, the first Spanish champion of the tournament did not stop attending to the promises. The euphoria of the moment and her 18 -year -old youth were stronger than tired. Ala-una y medya ng umaga sa Spain, at Carlos Alcaraz smiling from ear to ear to a meeting by videoconference with a small group of Spanish media, which was World of sports.

What does it mean to win the ATP Masters 1000 at age 18?

It means a lot. It reflects the great work done all these years with my team and my people. I am so happy to live it all so soon. I am a boy who wants more. I’m ready for the clay court tour, where I hope to get a second Masters 1000.

What’s the key to everything being fast, that you’re too early?

For the work I do. Every day I put my brick on my wall and that’s the key. Lay your bricks every day in the best possible way, that’s what Juanjo (one of his physiotherapists) told me, who sent me a motivational video. Don’t try to make the wall bigger or more impressive, place your brick every day in the best possible way. Put it in the most perfect way. And that’s the key to rising fast.

An ATP 250 in Umag, an ATP 500 in Rio and now an ATP Masters 1000 in Miami. The next step is a Grand Slam. Are you ready to win Roland Garros?

I would tell you that I am ready, I am confident, physically and mentally as well. Maybe it’s not Roland Garros, but I could win a Grand Slam this year. And I’m not afraid to say it. There’s Nadal, Djokovic, Tsitsipas or Medvedev, who is the best in the world and a favorite in a Grand Slam, but yes, I’m not afraid to say I’m ready to win a Grand Slam.

Speaking of fear. Are you really scared of anything?

In many things. In the dark, in many animals. Even if it doesn’t seem like it, I’m scared of a lot of things.

And did you spend more nerves getting your driver’s license or playing a big final like this?

With the driver’s license I became so tense, I was shaking. Although in a Grand Slam or Masters 1000 final there is also a lot of nervousness.

Eleventh in the world, reached the top-10. How do you set your goals, achieving a Grand Slam or number one in the world?

Last year everything was new experience, almost everything was my first time and I had to put it into practice. Now I’m a different person and a different player. All of those experiences have helped me now to face the semi-final or Masters 1000 final. You never know when a Grand Slam will come to you, although I’m ready to have a good result. And the harder is the number one coming, which hopefully will be soon, but I can’t say when.

Do you feel like a chosen one, a special athlete?

Not special, I’ll have a place on the circuit, but I don’t feel that special. Nobody on the circuit. Everyone is working to find their place, seek to be number one, number two. I am working to find my site at number one.

And different from others for the style and conditions of the game?

I am a very dynamic player, at any moment I can make an amazing punch or another punch, because I have enough resources. It’s good and bad at the same time because sometimes you don’t know which shot to choose. Many players like me play, are aggressive and go on the net, even though not many have so many resources. The ones on the left? I will say that I am the player who makes the most drop shots.

Is there anything to improve on coming home?

Now I have a few days off. I’ve been very demanding for a month and a half, I’m also from the Davis Cup. We will talk to Juan Carlos (Ferrero, his coach) about what we have done well and badly so we can face Montecarlo (April 11 to 17, and then play Godó from April 18 to 24) in the best possible way. way.

Is the surprise arrival of Juan Carlos Ferrero starting to win the final? (He left the United States due to the sudden death of his father, to whom he dedicated the victory Carlos)

It was an incredible surprise. I didn’t expect him to come, I thought of talking to him on the phone to get ready for the final. This is something incredible. To the surprise yesterday I won, I’ll tell you. For having Juan Carlos by my side in this special moment.

There is not much margin between hard court and clay. How do you manage the physical and mental needs you have accumulated?

Being at the foot of the cannon in all competitions is complicated. But I have a good physique, which helps me endure all the battles, all the tournaments. And I was lucky to be able to travel with a physio, with Juanjo (Moreno), I have Sergio (Hernández) and Fran (Rubio) in Murcia. I have three best physios, which helps me get up for the following tournaments.

And how about reading battles?

I learned a lot from that thing. Previously, he left games what happened, he didn’t read games much and was less inside the game. I was pretty good at knowing what was going on. Stop and find a different way, do different things during the game.

What gift deserves this title in Miami? Any fancy in mind?

I had to talk it over with my dad, who was taking it all in for me. We need to go home and see. There’s something on my mind, but we need to talk about whether this is how I feel.

He got up from his chair and disappeared across the screen with the same strength and happiness where he sat. The mission was accomplished. You already have a plane reservation for homecoming. Originally from the Murcian company El Palmar, it has operations center in JC Ferrero Equelite Sport Academy in Villena, Alicante. And trips to Monte Carlo, Barcelona, ​​Madrid, Rome and Paris await you.