After sailing through his quarterfinal, defeating Stefanos Tsitispas 62 61 76, Carlos Alcaraz relishes playing the semifinal against Novak Djokovic
What really happened to Carlos Alcaraz after 1 hour and 43 minutes, when he was leading 61 62 52 over Stefanos Tsitispas and had 2 match points? How can such a narrative, which he had dominated from the very beginning, suddenly become a match on equal terms? So as to stretch as far as a tie break?
Was it just a lapse of concentration, as Carlos admitted after the match? I would say I lost my focus. He started to play better, but I lost my focus.
Was it an unconscious need for a challenge, as it could be inferred from his next words? I was in trouble and I’m very happy I was able to overcome that moment, stay focused, play a great level and believe I was going to win that third set.
Or was it simply the fact that he enjoys playing tennis and that he tries to make the people enjoy watching tennis, as he said in the press conference after the match? Stefanos Tsitsipas had finally risen up to the show’s expectations, saving the first two match points in the tiebreak with an ace and a backhand down the line. And Carlos finished the match glamorously with a half volley followed by a forehand volley on full stretch.
As usual he had made everything seem so easy. He was fully aware and delighted. I think today was such a great level. I played really, really well. I would say one of my best matches of my career.
Everything that I did, it was easy. Every shot that I’m making in the match means that I’m really comfortable on that shot. I feel great. I feel that every time that I make that shot, it’s going to be in.
Two are the words that constantly emerge in his interviews today: “believe” and “enjoy”. Believe in myself all the time, that’s the important thing. Not only for me, for everybody, believe in yourself. The key to play this kind of level is enjoy it.
The semifinal will be the match everybody has been waiting for in this Roland Garros 2023. Alcaraz is one of those.
I really want to play that match. Since last year I really wanted to play again against Novak. You know, we both are playing a great level, and if you want to be the best, you have to beat the best. So I’m really looking for that match. I’m going to enjoy it. It’s amazing to make history, you know, playing a semifinal with such a legend like Novak. So it’s going to be a great match for me.
