The former world number 1 will lead the ATP 250 draw in the Argentine capital. (AFP)
The Spanish Carlos Alcaraz, 2nd in the current world ranking, arrives at the ATP in Buenos Aires, which begins on Monday, “wanting to win”, while admitting that “it will not be easy to face people who already come with several matches”.
The 19-year-old tennis player from Murcia said at a press conference at the Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club that the player from the Argentine capital “It’s my first tournament of 2023 and my first since Paris. Have been four months since my last game“.
“I arrive wanting to win (the tournament), but it will not be easyBecause I haven’t competed for a long time, I need to catch up with the competition, and facing rivals with several games is not going to be easy. That’s why I came earlier, to train with very good players, pick up the pace and start the tournament in the best possible way,” he said. alcaraz.
The ATP 250 in Buenos Aires is the second event of the South American clay court tour, and the one chosen by Alcaraz to open the year, after he was unable to play the australian open in January due to a muscle injury in his right leg.
“(The one in Buenos Aires) is a very nice tournament, Juan Carlos (Ferrero) has told me many things about this tournament,” said Alcaraz, who arrived in the Argentine capital with his work team, including Ferrero himself, former number 1 in the world, in addition to being accompanied by his brother, his father and his uncle.
Carlos Alcaraz, poetry in movement.
Buenos Aires, Argentina.
February 11, 2023. pic.twitter.com/60vALMPx0Z
– Argentina Open (@ArgentinaOpen) February 11, 2023
Accompanied
“I have been lucky that my family can come and also my coaching staff, whom I see as my family. The time on the track is two or three hours a day, the rest is all outside and you have to do things that are fun and make you feel good. They come to cheer me on, and having that part of my house when I go to tournaments is very important”, said ‘Carlitos’.
The Spaniard, who rose to number 1 in the ranking after winning the US Open 2022 and dominated the circuit for 20 weeks, noted that 2022 “has been a very good year. My dream came true very quickly, in just one year, but I have taken it quite naturally”.
“Tennis is what I like the most and what I want to do, and after getting number 1 we had to set new goals, achieve things in the long term. I want to continue enjoying tennis and improve, I know that I still have many things to improveWe have to continue training and look forward”, added the Murcian.
Alcaraz expanded that “the best in history have always been improving. They were already very good from a young age, and I can improve in everything, physically, in tennis. With my team I will take those small leaps to be even better”.
Regarding his status as a new figure on the circuit, he said that “I’m doing well. There was a time when I had to set new goals, because fulfilling my dream soon took me by surprise. But I’m doing well and I already have other goals. I know where I want to go, that’s what’s important. I am clear that I want to continue improving and that is the key to everything”.
Alcaraz also referred to the fact of having defeated legends like Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadaland explained that “the fact of always moving forward, of not being afraid of whoever is in front of you has been basic to achieving what I have achieved”.
“There were players I had more respect for, like Nole or Rafa, but not too much. I have always taken that very naturally, being able to win or beat them, and that ambition led me to be who I am right now, ”he added.
Alcaraz will make his direct debut in Buenos Aires in the second round, against the winner of the game between the Italian Fabio Fognini and the serbian Laslo Djereaccording to the draw for the main draw, which took place this Saturday.
