Alcaraz: “I’m a chameleon; that’s the key to being a great tennis player”
The champion reflects on his game, his hunger for titles, the impact he has on rivals and what comes next.
Smiling, as you would expect after claiming his first ATP 500 title in Doha, Carlos Alcaraz sat down with the two Spanish outlets that traveled to Qatar’s capital, including AS. Beside him was the falcon trophy awarded to the tournament winner, previously lifted by the likes of Roger Federer, Andy Murray, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. The Spaniard spoke calmly about what he had achieved while already setting fresh goals, fully aware that the grind of the tour never stops. He now has a relatively light week before heading to the United States for Indian Wells and Miami.
Would you rank this match among the top 10 performances of your career in terms of level?
Top 10 or top 15, somewhere in that range. I thought it was a very complete performance from me. I was aggressive when I needed to be, or whenever the opportunity was there, and patient when the moment required it. It’s true that when you’re playing someone who gives you a sense of calm, in the sense that they’re making a lot of errors, it allows you to take control. He made quite a few mistakes and played below his usual level. I know how fast he can play, so I’m not sure whether it was a tactical issue or just one of those days where things don’t come off. Either way, it let me stay composed on court, and because of that I was able to produce my best tennis. So yes, I’d put it somewhere between the top 10 and top 15, speaking for myself.
You’re like the falcon on the trophy beside you, a predator circling every tournament. You’ve won nine of your last 13 events. That’s remarkable. How do you view it?
I’m really happy. This is what we work for, to win titles and be at the top. That’s my ambition. Winning nine of the last 13 shows the consistency I’ve been able to maintain. Doha was a tournament I really wanted to win. I was excited to come here and lift the trophy. Above all, seeing myself achieve my goals is what makes me happiest and what I’m most proud of. Now it’s about keeping it going, taking a moment to appreciate everything, enjoying it and moving forward.
You’ve said you don’t see yourself as unbeatable, but do you think your rivals might see you that way right now?
It’s possible that a large part of my rivals see me like that. I’m sure there are others who don’t, who instead see me as a clear target and a source of motivation in their training. I think the level of maturity we’ve reached, on court and off, is very good. Mentally I’m taking steps forward. Tournaments like Australia and this one might make players watching from home think, “This kid is playing at a very high level, and he’s handling situations really well.” Going into future matchups, it’s normal if they feel it’s harder to beat me.
The downside is that it never stops. You get a week off now, then you’re back on tour with big events ahead. How do you manage that? Winning obviously helps.
Of course winning gives you confidence, but those short breaks after each tournament are what really help me. Going home, spending a week there. Even if I’m training, even if I have days off, even if I don’t know exactly what I’ll do, just being home calms me down. It relaxes me and allows me to reflect on everything after each tournament, especially after a title. Looking ahead, I’m excited and motivated. These are special tournaments for me. We’ll see how it goes, but first I’m going to enjoy this one, because it’s special too.
Indian Wells has plenty of golf courses. Have you lined up a round with any of your friends on tour?
In Australia I ran into a few guys in the locker room who play golf and we said maybe we’d meet up in Indian Wells for a round. We’ll see if it happens. It’s a place I love going to. Honestly, I don’t know if I’ll practice more golf than tennis. But I’m sure I’ll spend a few hours on the course.
You’ve now won tournaments across different cultures and continents. What does that say about your ability to adapt?
It says I’m a chameleon [Alcaraz smiles]. And I think that’s the key to becoming a great tennis player and a great athlete. You can’t get stuck playing well in just one place. In tennis you only get one tournament in each location. You’re constantly traveling, moving, living completely different experiences and situations. I’m very happy that I can adapt to any circumstance and play well in any condition. I’m not sure if I’m missing a continent or culture, but if I am, I’ll get there.
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