Carlos Alcaraz and his first time at the Argentina Open: he drinks mate, compares Messi to Federer and dreams of the title

The Spanish Carlos AlcarazNo. 2 in the world after Serbia’s Novak Djokovic ousted him after winning the Australian Open, he has begun to feel the warmth and color of Buenos Aires, where he will return to the court in Open Argentina. Yesterday he was encouraged by those who came to see the standings and couldn’t lose sight of him when they found him training “in leather” with 35 degrees.

Alcaraz, who injured the semimembranosus muscle in his right leg on January 4, acknowledged that it won’t be easy for him to “start over”, especially against tennis players who have already played several matches.

“I came a few days earlier to train with very good players, get up to speed and improve. It’s a very nice tournament,” said the Spaniard, winner of five titles last year, including the US Open.

He arrived in the Argentine capital accompanied by his brother, father and uncle, as well as his teammates, whom he considers his “family”. “Time on the pitch is two to three hours a day. The rest is all out there and you have to do things that feel good to be in the tournament as good as possible. They come to watch me play and cheer me up, but also to have that part of the house when I go to tournaments, which is very important,” Alcaraz stressed.

On last season, which included being number one, he commented: “It was a very good year. I reached my goal very quickly, basically in just one year, and I took it as naturally as possible. I am clear that tennis is what I want to do beyond results and to get number 1 we had to set new goals.

When asked what virtues characterize him, Alcaraz highlighted the “courage” with which he competes and his ability to “always go forward” and “not be afraid”.

“There were some players I had more respect for, but not much. I always wanted to win, beat them and I think ambition is what made me who I am now,” she said.

The Spaniard will make his debut in the round of 16, as will the British Cameron Norrie, the Italian Lorenzo Musetti and Diego Schwartzman. He will do it against the winner of the duel between the Italian Fabio Fognini and the Serbian Laslo Djere. Among the matches of the first round stand out: Guido Pella-Jaume Munar, Pedro Cachín-Thiago Monteiro, Federico Coria-Facundo Díaz Acosta and those of Sebastián Báez and Francisco Cerúndolo against players of the classification

Carlos Alcaraz, hand in hand

-How did Argentina welcome you?

-The truth is that very well, happy to be here. Very happy, it’s the first time I’ve been there.

-People have many expectations, what’s yours?

-I simply don’t know how the Argentinian public will welcome me. I hope you are well and sing a song with my name. Here in Argentina the songs are very common and they are very successful.

-Are you a football fan, how did you see Messi at the World Cup?

I admire all types of athletes. I really admire Messi for the number of years he has been at the best level and for all that he has won at that high level. At the World Cup, Messi played the superhero role and basically left a whole country behind to win the World Cup – I really appreciate that.

-Are you interested in going to a stadium to watch Argentine football?

-Sure. But in the end it’s complicated because of training, rest and so on… It’s complicated, but I would have liked to go to a game and see how it feels.

-Boca, River or other preference?

I have no preferences. I haven’t inspected much either, but assuming that I don’t support anyone, the Bombonera has always been the stadium that makes the most noise…

-Who is the Messi of tennis?

-The Messi of tennis I would say is Roger (Federer), for his talent and ease.

-You were the world number 1 and champion of a US Open at the age of 19. How do you feel motivated with the expectation you have of being so young?

-Well, the truth is that he took it very, very normally. I try not to get too influenced, I try to play for myself. To be at the best level, to give all I can give. Give everything on the track and leave satisfied, you lose or not. For me this is the most important thing and above all to surround myself with good people, especially my family, my friends and the team and together to move forward and try not to be pressured by what people expect from me.

-And your friends from childhood or adolescence will have finished school, maybe someone is graduating, how is your case?

-In Spain I finished high school and then concentrated 100% on tennis, which is what I really wanted to do. Years go by, you meet new people, some stay on the road, but those who have always been there are by your side.

-How do you judge the Argentine public, which has been very explicit on the networks since your arrival was known?

-Argentinians are very, very close. And the truth is that since I posted the first training session I have received many messages of affection and I really want to play in front of them.

-What are your goals, do you see what Novak Djokovic or Rafael Nadal are doing?

-I want to give the best level, win many Grand Slams and I don’t have to pay attention to Djokovic and Rafa, as the years go by and they are winning Grand Slams and giving their best level. This is what I would like: to maintain that level as the years go by.

-What did you try from Argentina? Roast, mate, dulce de leche, alfajores or haven’t you had time yet?

-The truth is that I haven’t had time, but it’s something I’d like to do this week, try something like barbecue: tonight I’ll try it. The mate too. I’m a guy who likes to try things so once you try it you say: I like it, I don’t like it.

-What brought you to Argentina to start the year here?

-I wanted to come here. The year before I couldn’t do it, but once I couldn’t be in Australia, I thought it was the right time to come.

-What do you imagine of your first rival: do you look at the picture or are you not the type to do it?

-I haven’t looked yet, I was told something, but I have no preferences. Both play very, very well (Fabio Fognini and Laslo Djere), we’ll see who I play against.

-Did you want to play against Del Potro?

-Eventually yes. Juan Martín is one of the great tennis players that tennis has had and I would have loved to play against him.