Carlos Alcaraz and the joy needed to compete | ATP Tour

Roland Garros

Alcaraz and the joy needed to compete

The Spanish insists on pursuing that quality in his game before debuting in Roland Garros

May 23, 2025

For the second consecutive day, Carlos Alcaraz trained on the tracks of Roland Garros to prepare his debut next Monday against Giulio Zeppieri, the first stop on his way to defend the Mosqueteros Cup. The Spanish, who sharing a practice session with Francisco Cerúndo, later sat against the press for the first time in the tournament to assess what he has ahead.

“I have good feelings,” Alcaraz warned. “Yesterday I noticed a big difference in terms of conditions, but today I felt the ball a little better,” added the Spanish. “I don’t look for anything specific, but to find myself well and comfortable. I want to try to put my game in training and not think about how I am going to start the tournament, how it will be the first game,” continued No. 3 of the PIF ATP Rankings. “Above all, I want to give joy to my game. That is what I always try to do in every game, and in each training. I do not feel any fear of anything. Not to try to try to be more solid. I want to have a good time, do the things that have fun. And so I think I will be prepared to start the tournament.”

Alcaraz, who arrives at Roland Garros with the titles of Montecarlo and Rome under his arm, in addition to the final of Barcelona, ​​was questioned if he feels superior to his other rivals in whipped land, and on whether he considers that the games depend on him, passing through his racket.

“I sincerely feel like that either,” explained the Spanish. “Obviously Jannik [Sinner] He has had an incredible week in Rome, but it came from three months and that lack of competition shows, especially when you are advancing in important tournaments, ”he said about the No.1, which he won last year in the Semifinals of Roland Garros.“ I have also had difficult moments and very hard games in which I could have lost perfectly, but I am finding myself very comfortable, I am feeling very good. I am very happy with the level that I am reaching, but the great part of the tournaments and the matches do feel that they depend on me, whether I find the good path, if I find the good direction, how I feel, whether I am enjoying or not … that kind of thing greatly influence my way of playing. ”

Precisely, Alcaraz would not face Sinner until a hypothetical final in Paris. After seeing the faces a few days ago in the game for the title in Rome, and with the Spanish dominating 7-4 his series Lexus ATP Head2head against the Italian, many fans could think that the 22-year-old has caught the measure to his rival … nothing further from reality, according to Alcaraz himself.

“I have said it many times: our rivalry is very beautiful because our games are very tactical,” said the Spanish. “I am sure that he, the next time we face, will change things, he will try to improve. And I will try to improve to try to beat him again,” said the Murcian. “It’s what Big-3 has done during all these years. There have also been Rafa’s very good gusts [Nadal] winning Djokovic, then vice versa with Federer and the same. There will be streaks and I have to be prepared because I know that I am not going to beat all the games, that is so and we cannot always win, “he reasoned.” Every time I face him is a mental, tactical and physical battle at the highest level. So you have to be prepared for everything that happens. ”

Alcaraz will debut on Monday against Giulio Zeppieri, in Roland Garros, where he looks for the fifth Grand Slam of his career.