Alcaraz warning his rivals: “I feel stronger and more prepared than last year”

It is 12 months since Carlos Alcaraz announced his arrival on the Grand Slam scene with a superb run to the quarter-finals of the US Open, when he beat Stefanos Tsitsipas in an instant classic before eventually bowing out to Felix Auger-Aliassime, when his body gave out.

A year on, and the 19-year-old Spaniard has established himself as a consistent performer in the biggest events, having reached the quarter-finals at Roland-Garros and made the last 16 at Wimbledon.

Seeded No 3, Alcaraz can’t go under the radar anymore but the youngster says he’s better equipped than ever to go further than last year.

“I feel stronger and more prepared than the last year,” he told reporters at the US Open on Friday. “I did quarter-finals in Roland Garros, as well. I have played long matches, of course, tough matches this year against the top players. I think I’m more ready in this tournament than the last year.”

Alcaraz: “My goal here is to enjoy”

When he was beaten by Cameron Norrie in the quarter-finals in Montreal last time out, Alcaraz said he could not handle the pressure of the moment. The pressure will be amped up at the US Open, but the teenager believes he will be ready to perform.

“I think in Montreal I felt the pressure and I tried to not think about that, just to enjoy,” he said. “My pressure here is to enjoy every match, show my best game.

“Obviously, I want to do a good results here. It’s a really important tournament for me. But I know that if I don’t feel that pressure as a bad part, I will go forward. Obviously, my goal here is to enjoy. I think if I do that, I will do a good result.”

Alcaraz, who won Masters 1000 titles in Miami and Madrid this year, takes on Sebastien Baez in the first round and he’s too humble a player to cast his eyes too far forward, knowing what can happen on a fast surface where the bigger hitters will try to rush him.

However, the prospect of a semi-final clash with record 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal is already a mouthwatering prospect.

“Of course, it would be amazing for me to play a semi-final here against Rafa, but there are great matches ahead,” he said. “There are a lot of days before going to a semifinal. Of course, Rafa has to win his matches, as well, so it’s a long process. (But) it would be amazing to face Rafa in the semi-final here in US Open.”

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