Alcaraz: “I see myself closer to the top players”

Carlos Alcaraz positively valued his performance at the Australian Open despite the heavy defeat against the Italian Matteo Berrettini in the fifth set tiebreak of a big third round match. He did it in the press conference after the game, in which he appeared calm and with the satisfaction of having given everything on the court.

The match: “The truth is that at the beginning I went very well, I had my chances to break him as soon as I came out and I couldn’t take advantage of them. Then I made a couple of silly mistakes that weren’t meant to be touched and from then on I rushed and went to tow. I didn’t know face that moment of weakness on my part. The key to turn it around is that even in the second set I was close to coming back. At that moment I knew what I had to do. I was calmer, with a better attitude, more aggressive and I went to for the match. That was the key why I came close to winning the match coming back two sets to love.”

Sensations: “I’m leaving with little screwed up by the defeat, but in the end I’m left with the feeling that in the super tie-break of the fifth I went for it, like during the whole match. I’m happy for that, because I know I’ve done it given everything, with a good feeling and with games and experiences that come in handy for the future”.

Calendar: “After the defeat, it’s time to think about the following tournaments. The year has just started, but I’m feeling very comfortable and I think my next stop will be Rio de Janeiro and then Acapulco. Then we’ll see how those competitions have gone and how I feel physically.

Demonstration: “After the tournament in Australia and this match, I leave with a feeling that I am very close to the tops, let’s say, the top-10. I have been on the verge of beating the seven in the world again and I have already beaten others from the upper part. With the level that I have shown, the sensations with which I leave are that I feel prepared and very close to being among that type of player”.

Ferrero’s words: “He congratulated me on the fight, because it’s not easy to go back two sets to love and be there close to winning the match. He told me that he had given everything, that that was the goal before starting, not to leave the court with the feeling of having kept something for yourself, but of having given everything and fought until the end”.

Berrettini: “The defeats hurt even fighting for four hours in the super tie-break of the fifth, having it very close, they hurt a lot, but in the end you always have to see the positive side of things, that this match makes me grow a lot and it is very good for me. well. Berrettini played a great game, at a great level throughout the game and that’s why I told him he deserved it. Me too, but his victory is undoubtedly deserved”.

Five-set matches: “Physically I have been feeling well in all the matches. I think I gave a good level physically and mentally and I can already say that I am prepared to play in this type of five-set situation, in very long matches. I showed that I can give a very good level also tennis”.