“If I feel good physically and with confidence, I know how difficult it is for my rivals to beat me,” Alcaraz said at a press conference after eliminating Alexander Zverev 6-1, 6-2.
“I don’t feel superior, although they have to play at a very high level,” added the Spaniard, defending champion in Madrid, where he beat Zverev in the final last year.
Since then, “I have grown as a player, as a person, although the result is similar,” he said.
“I feel more mature, knowing what to do on the track, I am different even though the feeling is similar,” said the Spaniard after his resounding victory.
Zverev “when he’s fine, he leaves you very little margin, he has great shots, a spectacular serve, he’s a solid player and when he makes more mistakes than necessary, it’s when you see that he’s not at his best level,” explained Alcaraz.
“Today I have been very fine, I have not left him practically time for anything, I have subtracted very well” to overcome it, he added, before remembering that Zverev “when he does not give you anything is one of the best in the world.”
Alcaraz also stated that this Tuesday he showed a higher level than his victory against Grigor Dimitrov in the previous round.
“It’s difficult to raise today’s level, but you can always play better. I hope that the little mistakes I made today, I don’t make them (in the next game) and improve, but with today’s level it’s more than enough to get out of track satisfied”, he assured.
Alcaraz also wished he could see Rafa Nadal back on the slopes soon, after the coach from Manacor, Carlos Moyá, told L’Equipe that Nadal’s goal is to be in Rome and Roland Garros.
“He is one of the best in history and we want to see him in all the tournaments,” said Alcaraz, before adding that “I hope he is in Rome.”
If Nadal, who has not played since his injury at the Australian Open, is at Roland Garros, he will be “an opponent to beat, even if he comes from Australia without playing, it will always be difficult to beat him, even if he comes without games or rhythm.”