Alcaraz: “Do not press and play as relaxed as possible help the physicist” | ATP Tour

Barcelona

Alcaraz: “Do not press and play as relaxed as possible help the physicist”

The Spanish will search this Saturday to return to the final in Barcelona

April 18, 2025

Carlos Alcaraz has never lost a game against a younger player at the ATP Tour (he has a 7-0 record), but precisely who has been closer to ending this unbeatability will be his next opponent, the Frenchman Arthur Fils, whom he will measure this Saturday in Barcelona’s semifinals Open Banc Sabadell.

“He is a great player,” said the Murcian about his opponent, whom he faced a few days ago in the 1000 Masters of Montecarlo. “We had never played and now we will do it for the second time in two weeks. Fils has a very powerful game, very difficult, we will see how it is going tomorrow.”

Alcaraz won a few days ago in the decisive, and after tracing a 4-6, 5-5, 0/40 with his serve. At all it was easy to advance 1-0 in the promising Lexus ATP Headtohead between them. In addition, the seventh head of series will reach fresh to its semifinal duel in Barcelona after only two Games played in the Retire of the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas.

“He has plenty of physique to endure what comes to him,” said No. 2 of the PIF ATP Rankings about Fils. “If your game had been long, it would have been 100% tomorrow. Now it will be rested, but without rhythm, I want to think that,” added the champion of this event in 2022 and 2023.

An issue that could worry many more than the FILS physicist is that of Alcaraz, who has played eight games since April 9, including this Friday in which it had to be demanded in each shot before an ever dangerous Álex de Miñaur.

“Against Álex you have to be patient, try to put one more and not rush. And if the points become long, I know that I must continue fighting. That is the most important thing when you play against Álex or someone who is a wall. You have to try to put more than him and run the same. You mentally have to go out with the thought that each point will be a battle,” said the Murcian.

Despite the wear, 18 times ATP Tour champion is confident that his physique will be on his side for this Saturday’s duel against Fils.

“For now, I physically find myself well for the accumulation of games that I have and the few days off. We have managed to manage everything very well on track. Do not press and play as relaxed as possible help the physicist. And we are also taking care of us a lot out of track, doing everything right to be the best possible the next day.”

Alcaraz finds another argument to trust that he will be 100% energy in his aspiration to achieve victory No. 90 of his career on clay in the ATP Tour.

“I am playing at home, in Spain, that is an extra motivation and desire. Even if I was physically and mentally tired, being with your people throws you forward. Fortunately these weeks are both good things are quite well.”