Carlos Alcaraz maintains that he’s nonetheless the identical teenager he was once earlier than profitable the US Open and changing into the youngest World No. 1 in ATP historical past, at the very least so far as his regular life is anxious. Taking over Casper Ruud within the remaining at Flushing Meadows this 12 months, Alcaraz scored a four-set victory to raise his maiden Grand Slam title.
Talking at his press convention forward of the 2022 Paris Masters, the highest seed was requested if there was something completely different about his life now that he’s a Grand Slam champion. The Spaniard, nevertheless, answered within the unfavourable, stating that his family and friends nonetheless deal with him the identical, despite the fact that he admitted that the tennis a part of his life – the media protection and the way understand him – has undergone an enormous shift in the previous couple of months.
“Nicely, I did not change in any respect. I simply had — nicely, plenty of issues modified however I did not change myself, you understand, as an individual,” Alcaraz mentioned. “I believe that the people who find themselves round me, my household, my group, my pals, I imply, nothing change with them, with my regular life, as an instance. After all, I imply, the media, the followers, as an instance, that is a part of course change lots, however in my regular life, as an instance nothing change.”
The World No. 1 was nonetheless in disbelief over how shortly his desires had been realized, with every thing coming collectively a lot quicker than he may have ever imagined. As sudden because it was, Alcaraz was completely satisfied to have achieved what he has achieved.
“It was my dream to win a Grand Slam, to turn into No. 1 of the world, however I did not count on to try this at 19 years previous, you understand. Every thing got here so quick, quicker than I may think about,” he mentioned. “Yeah, proper now I can notice what I did, my dream got here true, however after all it was sudden.”
Carlos Alcaraz additionally touched on his knee harm forward of his opener in opposition to Yoshihito Nishioka, remarking that it was nothing severe and that it was simply the same old wear-and-tear that got here with a protracted season.
“Nicely, just a few slightly issues. You already know, I’ll say as each participant on the finish of the 12 months have issues of their our bodies, you understand, and it’s important to play with that just a bit bit,” Carlos Alcaraz mentioned. “However not too severe.”
“I do not really feel the stress; I simply put that aim myself, to finish because the No. 1” – Carlos Alcaraz
Carlos Alcaraz has particular plans to finish the 12 months because the World No. 1, regardless of Rafael Nadal, Casper Ruud and Stefanos Tsitsipas sizzling on his heels. The Spaniard, nevertheless, didn’t see it as further stress, noting that he was merely going to strive his greatest at each match and hold having fun with his tennis.
“Nicely, I do not really feel the stress. I simply put that aim myself, you understand, to finish because the No. 1. However after all is actually powerful one. There’s nice gamers behind me, and, yeah, they’ve the possibilities, as nicely,” Carlos Alcaraz mentioned. “So I do not take that as a stress. Simply making an attempt to indicate my greatest in each match to, I imply, hold enjoying, you understand, hold going up. And yeah, that is what I’m. Simply take pleasure in enjoying tennis, and the stress is a component.”