Alcaraz: “It hurts, and I have to improve to have a chance at the ATP Finals”
The Spaniard also said that he thinks that the race for the No 1 spot in the rankings is a lost cause
Carlos Alcaraz, Rolex Paris Masters 2023 | © Chryslène Caillaud / Panoramic
Carlos Alcaraz had forgotten the feeling that he could leave an ATP Masters 1000, or even an ATP event, in the early rounds, as he did it in Paris on Tuesday night when he was defeated by Roman Safiullin 6-3, 6-4. The last time he lost his opening match at an ATP event was in Astana 12 months ago.
The Spaniard ruled out the idea of physical issues – he failed to defend his semi-final points in Basel because of a foot problem – but didn’t hide that his fatigue at the end of the season prevented him from playing his highest level against Safiullin.
“There are days like this, but it’s difficult for me to exit like this in a tournament where I hoped I could reach the final”, he said in Spanish around midnight to reporters in Paris. “It’s a failure, and it hurts. I am disappointed by my level and how I felt on court.”
“I have many things to improve if I want to have decent chances at the ATP Finals,” he said, in reference to the final event of the season, scheduled to begin in 11 days in Turin, Italy (November 12 to 19th). “I came to Paris with the clear idea to play the ATP Finals with an option to be back at the No 1 on spot in the rankings. I think my chances are gone now.”
“Honestly after the loss, I have to take some time” – Alcaraz
The numbers say that Alcaraz still has a mathematical chance to overtake Novak Djokovic, but that would need the improbable scenario of Djokovic losing very early in Paris and Alcaraz winning almost everything in Turin – and Djokovic nothing – to keep the Spaniard’s chances alive.
Alcaraz was unclear whether he thought he had time to be back at his best level to compete against the elite players of the world on indoor courts. “I don’t know,” he said, after his first tournament under the roof in 2023. “I have time before the ATP Finals, a lot of days of practice to be able to reach the level that I want to play. But right now, I’m not in the right time to talk about it. Honestly after the loss, I have to take some time.”
Probably the season has been so, so long and that affects my game.
Carlos Alcaraz
With mostly average results after September in his latest two seasons (six wins, five losses indoor in 2022 and 2023 combined), Alcaraz, now aged 20, understands that he has a lot to learn in term of effort management. “Probably the season has been so, so long and that affects my game. But I think this tournament (is known for having) a lot of surprises. Players are tired, aren’t they? I have to figure out how to be better in this part of the year.”
“I have a lot of things to improve, a lot of things to practice. I didn’t feel well in the game and above all I think I didn’t move well. I had a good quality of shots. But, physically in the part of movement, I have to improve a lot. I felt very slow against a player that kept a high level during the entire match.”
