Carlos Alcaraz maintains that he’s nonetheless the identical teenager he was once earlier than successful the US Open and changing into the youngest World No. 1 in ATP historical past, no less than so far as his regular life is anxious. Taking up Casper Ruud within the last at Flushing Meadows this 12 months, Alcaraz scored a four-set victory to elevate 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, nonetheless, answered within the destructive, stating that his family and friends nonetheless deal with him the identical, regardless that he admitted that the tennis a part of his life – the media protection and the way understand him – has undergone a large shift in the previous few months.
“Effectively, I did not change in any respect. I simply had — properly, lots of issues modified however I did not change myself, you realize, as an individual,” Alcaraz mentioned. “I feel that the people who find themselves round me, my household, my staff, my associates, I imply, nothing change with them, with my regular life, for instance. In fact, I imply, the media, the followers, for instance, that is a part of course change quite a bit, however in my regular life, for instance nothing change.”
The World No. 1 was nonetheless in disbelief over how shortly his desires have been realized, with the whole lot coming collectively a lot sooner than he might have ever imagined. As surprising because it was, Alcaraz was glad to have achieved what he has achieved.
“It was my dream to win a Grand Slam, to grow to be No. 1 of the world, however I did not anticipate to try this at 19 years previous, you realize. All the things got here so quick, sooner than I might think about,” he mentioned. “Yeah, proper now I can understand what I did, my dream got here true, however in fact it was surprising.”
Carlos Alcaraz additionally touched on his knee harm forward of his opener towards 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.
“Effectively, just a few a bit issues. You realize, I’ll say as each participant on the finish of the 12 months have issues of their our bodies, you realize, and it’s a must 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, nonetheless, didn’t see it as further stress, noting that he was merely going to attempt his greatest at each match and maintain having fun with his tennis.
“Effectively, I do not really feel the stress. I simply put that aim myself, you realize, to finish because the No. 1. However in fact is admittedly robust one. There’s nice gamers behind me, and, yeah, they’ve the probabilities, as properly,” Carlos Alcaraz mentioned. “So I do not take that as a stress. Simply attempting to indicate my greatest in each match to, I imply, maintain taking part in, you realize, maintain going up. And yeah, that is what I’m. Simply take pleasure in taking part in tennis, and the stress is part.”