Carlos Alcaraz is now, after Rafael Nadal, the Spanish male tennis player who has played in the most finals together with Manolo Santana; 30 for the Mallorcan and still far behind, four, he continues to make his way into history, which now also recognises him as the second youngest to link the finals of Roland Garros and Wimbledon in the same season. Only the player from Manacor, who linked the results of Paris and London in 2006, when he was 20 years old, surpasses him in this record. One less than the player from Murcia (21). He expresses himself (6-7 (1), 6-3, 6-4 and 6-4 against Daniil Medvedev) calmly in the conference room, without being oblivious to the commotion that his triumphs generate but always, they tell from his surroundings, with his feet on the ground. In this case, on the green.
“I’m actually glad my name is on that list, because it’s something incredible, something very difficult to do. I’m clear about that. But anyway, we’re going to try to beat them.” [risas]… I know that few have done it. But reaching the final of two tournaments in the same year is incredible for me,” repeats the player from El Palmar, who admits that his nerves betrayed him at the start of the match because, he explains, “playing on the Wimbledon centre court makes me a little more nervous than usual because of the way the tournament is.” In any case, he believes that “controlled nerves are good and necessary” because they help to keep one’s guard up. “I know what I have to do, although he knows it too,” he continues, referring to the final clash with Djokovic.
Alcaraz says that looking for “that fun point, that hot shot” which from time to time he thinks about in his mind helps him relax and which also helps him to play his best tennis; however, he believes that as he gets older and “the years go by, maybe I will mature and this will end.” But, for now, he emphasizes, “we are going to continue enjoying what we like, which is having fun, looking for those complicated shots and trying to make people enjoy it.” He has not lacked Show No gunpowder to this last performance, sealed with 55 winning shots, 53 approaches to the net – with 38 successes – and a firm determination to impose his plan and shorten the points.
Specifically, 38 of them have been decided with more than nine hits, 53 between five and eight, and 153 resolved with less than four. “I think I have played better matches this year. For example, I think I played better against Paul [en los cuartos]“But he and Medvedev have different styles,” he says. “But I think I’m going into the final at a very high level,” he adds, becoming the fourth player to win Roland Garros and Wimbledon in the last 25 years after Djokovic, Federer, Nadal and Murray. Constantly compared to them, his latest rival differs and speaks of a unique and distinct style. In fact, of a whole.
“I played against them when they were older,” said Medvedev, 28, the fifth-best player at the moment. “And I would say they are different. Roger played on the line and went to the net with his technique; Novak did too, but in a completely different way; and Rafa is very different, because he could be several meters behind, and then run for all the balls and hit one.” banana… I don’t think Carlos has anything like them, he’s just different. We all have our preferences: some like them more offensive and others more defensive. He can do everything. And if you send him an easy ball, you know the point is over. That’s what makes him so tough. He’s probably the toughest opponent I’ve ever faced in my career, although I still have time to do better…”
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