Alcaraz gets motivated for Wimbledon by watching his own highlights | ATP Tour

Wimbledon

Alcaraz gets motivated for Wimbledon by watching his own highlights

The Spaniard is looking for the Roland Garros-Wimbledon double

June 29, 2024

Carlos Alcaraz learned quickly on grass last season, when he won Queen’s Club and Wimbledon. While learning to adapt his game to grass, he watched videos of Roger Federer, Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal to analyze his game on this surface.

This year, the 21-year-old is still watching videos of those legends, but now he has another player to learn from: himself.

“I put up videos of myself last year, I’m not going to lie,” he said with a smile. “Just to see what I was doing or how I was doing it. Just moving around, shooting, doing the same thing I did last year.”

In terms of grass-court success and Grand Slam success, there are few players in the history of the sport who can match or surpass Alcaraz’s early comeback with three Major titles. Fewer still have been able to complete the rare Roland Garros-Wimbledon double in the same season, a feat Alcaraz can achieve this fortnight.

“Winning Grand Slams is difficult. Obviously changing from clay to grass court, totally different surfaces, totally different game,” he said when asked about his opportunity. “Let’s say I’m going to try. Obviously I want to put my name on that short list to win Roland Garros and Wimbledon in the same year. I know it’s going to be a very difficult and big challenge for me, but I think I’m ready to do it.”

“I’m doing a great job these last few weeks to prepare myself and feel comfortable to play Wimbledon here at 100 percent.”

❤️🌱 @Wimbledon

📸 Getty pic.twitter.com/4ZdGAMcpkU

— Carlos Alcaraz (@carlosalcaraz) June 27, 2024

Alcaraz arrived at Wimbledon with more momentum last year after winning the Queen’s title. He said his grass game started to work in the later rounds of the ATP 500, but this year he couldn’t get past the second round. An early loss to Jack Draper meant that Alcaraz would only have two grass matches before Wimbledon. However, his confidence is unwavering.

“I feel very good. Honestly, after Queen’s, I had many days to adapt my game, to practice, to improve,” he explained. “I remember after losing at Queen’s, the next day I started practicing my moves, my shots, just to be more comfortable moving on grass, playing on grass this year.”

“Right now I’ve had great training sessions with great players, just to see what my level is. Right now I think I’m ready to start the tournament.”

Alcaraz will face Mark Lajal on Monday in the traditional opening day match for the defending champion on Centre Court.