Carlos Alcaraz: “It has been one of my most complete games this year” | ATP Tour

Roma

Alcaraz: “It has been one of my most complete games this year”

The Spanish defeated Jack Draper in two sets

May 14, 2025

Radiant of happiness, Carlos Alcaraz celebrated his pass to the semifinals of the internal internal bnl d’Italia. By defeating Jack Draper, avengeing his defeat in the BNP Paribas Open, the Spaniard claimed to leave Rome as No. 2 of the PIF ATP Rankings, which will allow him to be the second head of the series in Roland Garros.

“It is fantastic to be a second head of Roland Garros, knowing that I am not going to find Sinner before the final, if I get to her,” Alcaraz acknowledged. “It is something I had not thought about although number one was not an objective.”

Before that, however, the 22 -year -old has a work on the Italic Forum: on Friday he will look for the pass to the grand final against the winner of the match that will play tonight Lorenzo Musetti and Alexander Zverev, in force champion in Rome.

“It has been a very good game,” said Alcaraz. “I have played very well. I remember that Indian Wells was very difficult for me. Today I faced the game in another way, and I am very proud of it. I have tried to show my best tennis since the beginning. And I think it has worked quite well.”

“Jack has demonstrated the level he has. He can win everyone. He has already won a Masters 1000 final and could also do so in Madrid. He is one of the candidates to win in Roland Garros or in any Grand Slam.”

Unlike Indian Wells, where Alcaraz lived the hours before his encounter with Draper with a lot of nervousness, in Rome the champion of four Grand Slam titles made an approach to very different training, which had results.

“Today I tried not to think it was an important game,” Alcaraz confessed. I tried to play, enjoy and not think about the result. I tried to make the blows that I like. Smile and have joy on the track. That is the most important thing, and that I have been thinking about the whole game. ”

“I’ve started quite well and I also ended up well. I lost a little the concentration in the second set, but it has probably been one of the most complete matches that I have played this year.”

Now, Alcaraz will have the day off on Thursday and will return to the track on Friday, looking for the pass to the final against an Italian audience that enjoys a lot every time the Spanish is on the track, delighting the fans present in the Italic forum.

“The people here are great because they have a lot of passion for sport,” said Alcaraz. “The other day I went to football and the atmosphere was incredible. Here in tennis there is a good atmosphere in all the clues. It’s great for tennis and for us. I am very grateful for the support I receive in each training and in each game.”