Carlos Alcaraz will compete in the ATP Finals in Turin for the second consecutive year. In his first participation he reached the semifinals. The Murcian He sits down with MARCA before the debut with Casper Ruud to talk about everything: the Masters, the Davis Cup, Rafa Nadal’s retirement…
Ask. Can it be said that he arrives at the tournament better than last season, both physically and mentally?
Answer. I already said last year that I wanted to be better in this part of the season, play better tennis, be better physically and especially mentally, to arrive fresher at this point. I’m not going to say that I’m completely fresh, but I am more than last year. To this tournament, which is the penultimate one, I would say that I came in quite well. Little things happen, but they are normal. I face it motivated and eager to play good tennis.
Q. The American tour was not good, winning a match between Cincinnati and the US Open. Was the turning point the Davis Cup in Valencia?
R. The Davis Cup had a great importance in that change. I was coming from a very, very intense summer. And then the American tour didn’t go the way I would have liked. Things from that tour, both when I was at home and when I was there, make me learn for the future, what I need and what I don’t need. Davis is a team competition, where you have your teammates, the captain, your coach, and there is a very good vibe, at least in our team. There is a good chemistry, a good group that helps you be well off the court. That is important to be well on the track later. The Laver Cup also helped me, as I had never played it before. It is a different competition and I enjoyed it very much. It helped me a lot mentally for the next tournaments.
Q. He is the player that Roger Federer has seen play the most times. Do you feel like one of your favorite players?
R. The truth is that it was a real pleasure for me to have Roger watching my games at Laver. Obviously he was going to be there. In Shanghai he couldn’t be at my games, but then I stayed a few more days in the city and I had the opportunity to play with him, to talk to him, to ask him things about his career, how it went, what he’s done… My career has just started and I tried to ask him things that would be good for me for the future. Then we both watched the final of the Masters 1000 together and we talked a little about everything: about the match, the final with Djokovic in the Games, things that he would have done… And also about life situations. It was a great moment for me and I hope he comes to see me play more times.
When I played with Federer in Shanghai it seemed like he had never retired
Q. Does Federer still have the same hand as in his time as a professional?
R. The timing is there. Roger will always have that quality. He played so easy with me. He told me it was the first time he had played with that intensity since he retired. That he had played tennis, but not with that intensity. He hit the ball so easily, so naturally, with so much elegance. It seemed as if he had never retired. Obviously when the point lengthened it was what it was, but the feeling I had was that it never retired.
Q. You met Rafael Nadal in Riyadh for the ‘Six Kings Slam’ and days before you had announced your retirement with the date of the Final 8 of the Davis Cup. Did you try to convince him to continue playing for a while longer?
R. No, not really. I wish I could have. I know that the decision has been made. I asked him if it was a hard day announcing the withdrawal, if it was a hard decision to make. He told me yes, but it is a decision that is considered because these decisions are not made lightly. She was meditating with her family, with her team, those are her feelings. If someone had told me that I had a chance of convincing him to continue, I would have done it and I would have tried because I don’t want to see him off the slopes yet.
Rafa told me that the day of the announcement was hard, but the decision was considered with his family, his team, these are his feelings.
Q. After the ATP Finals comes the final phase of the Davis Cup in Malaga. Do you feel strong enough to play singles and doubles?
R. Me playing for Spain whatever it takes: singles, doubles and if there was mixed, then mixed. If there is anything, I am there to contribute my grain of sand because playing for Spain is the greatest thing there is for me. Being able to represent my country, my flag, all Spaniards and more in the situation we are experiencing due to DANA. I’m going to give everything for my flag and my country.
Q. How do you face the maximum competition by country?
R. I want to go without any emotional expectations. We want to win the title for Spain and also for Rafa. So that your last tournament is as God intended.
I’m going to give everything for my flag, so that Nadal’s last tournament is as God intended
Q. Share a group in the Masters with Alexander Zverev, Casper Ruud and Andrey Rublev. Did you prefer Jannik Sinner in the round robin or did you want to avoid him?
R. I didn’t care, I didn’t care because in the end the eight best players in the world play here and to be the best you have to beat the best. If it is not in the groups it will be in the semifinals or the final, if I qualify. I could play with Jannik or Sascha and they are two of the best currently.
Q. In Paris-Bercy the track was very fast and in Turin it seems slow.
R. It’s our daily bread: one week is super fast and the other super slow, one week it’s some balls and the next, others. We have to adapt as best as possible. I think the Turin track is good for me or so I think. In the end it’s what they do, I don’t understand it, but we have to adapt.
Q. The start of the preseason is set for December 8th. What is a priority to work on?
R. There are specific things. Of course I would like to improve my serve more, it is obvious that I have to do it, and other things that I now prefer not to say because my rivals will know them. I’m going to sit down with Juan Carlos (Ferrero) and put in the notebook, on paper, what things we are going to work on specifically during the preseason.
I know I’m missing the Australian Open and I’m thinking about getting a kangaroo tattoo
Q. You have won at Roland Garros, Wimbledon and the US Open. Are you excited to complete the ‘Grand Slam’ in the next edition of the Australian Open? Are you aware that it is the last great title you are missing?
R. I have it in mind, I have in mind getting the kangaroo tattoo. I’m going to try to have a good vacation first. For me it is super important to be able to disconnect from tennis. And return fresh to the preseason so that it is brilliant, brutal, to arrive in Australia in the best possible way both on a tennis, physical and mental level. The goal is to complete the ‘Grand Slam’ in Melbourne.
