Carlos Alcaraz: “Experiencing it firsthand is something wonderful” | ATP Tour

Roland Garros

Alcaraz: “Experiencing it firsthand is something wonderful”

The Spaniard celebrates his first crown at Roland Garros

June 09, 2024

Seeing a Spanish player lifting the Musketeers Cup at Roland Garros in the last 30 years has been a common sight, especially thanks to the figure of Rafael Nadal who has repeated it fourteen times. Also, Sergi Bruguera, Carlos Moyà, Albert Costa or Juan Carlos Ferrero. And this Sunday, Carlos Alcaraz added his name to this list of champions.

Since 1993, 32 editions of the Grand Slam have been played on clay and twenty of them have gone into the hands of a Spaniard. Only Thomas Muster, Yevgeni Kafelnikov, Gustavo Kuerten, Andre Agassi, Gastón Gaudio, Roger Federer, Stan Wawrinka and Novak Djokovic have been able to stand in the way of La Armada.

“I have always said that I am very proud to be Spanish. Representing my flag, my country, all Spaniards, in the tournaments I go to, is a source of pride for me,” Alcaraz began his explanation, about a special trophy ceremony at Roland Garros. “More so here in Paris, one of the few tournaments that plays the anthem when they win.”

“In the end this trophy is personal, it is my own, but it also goes to the entire country, to all my people, it is something amazing. We have experienced it many times with Rafa, but experiencing it firsthand is something wonderful,” added the 21-year-old from Murcia.

In May 2015, Alcaraz traveled to Paris to play in an Under-13 tournament at the foot of the Eiffel Tower. So he was already clear that one of his dreams was to one day win in the Philippe Chatrier.

“In the end I have worked very hard to get these types of trophies, which I have dreamed of,” acknowledged the three-time Grand Slam champion. “I watched this tournament on TV and said that one day I was going to win it, in the end achieving all those things is very nice, both for my family, for my people and for me. Achieving a dream is always very nice.”

After achieving this title, Alcaraz will do as on previous occasions in which he achieved a major: tattoo the date of winning the trophy. He did so after the US Open 2022 and Wimbledon 2023. “I have already reassured them a little and it will only be the first for each one. If I ever have more, he will only be the first of each one,” he joked about what his parents would think of the third tattoo.

At the moment, he can boast of having won three Grand Slams on three different surfaces, being the youngest in history to achieve it and the seventh player to achieve it in the men’s team.

“For me it is a pride to be in the history of our sport. A kid from El Palmar, from Murcia, who is achieving records and putting his name in the history of tennis is something wonderful, both for me, for my family and for all my people. It is something that we are going to enjoy and I hope they don’t take it away from me soon,” she signed with a huge smile.

But beyond the titles, records and figures he is recording in the history of this sport, the No. 2 of the PIF Live ATP Rankings is left with a lesson learned in these two weeks in Paris: the importance of staying mentally strong. .

“A Grand Slam is won by having a lot of mental strength, if you are weak in mind, no matter how much level you have, physically you are impeccable, tennis-wise you are playing the best tennis of your life, if you are mentally weak you cannot win a Grand Slam,” he confessed. Alcaraz. “That’s what I take away, after winning this tournament and something I’ve realized for the next tournaments.”

Although now is the time to celebrate. And so he will do it in Paris. As? “With the family and friends who have come from Spain to encourage me today. “What better time to celebrate a Roland Garros than with the people close to you!” It’s time to enjoy.