“I didn’t feel like doing anything for several days,” Carlos Alcaraz opens up on stinging defeat at the Paris Masters

Roman Safiullin beat Carlos Alcaraz 6-3, 6-4 in the first round of the 2023 Paris Masters.

“I didn’t feel like doing anything for several days,” Carlos Alcaraz opens up on stinging defeat at the Paris Masters

Carlos Alcaraz (Source: NDTV Sports)

Carlos Alcaraz has had a rough patch of form for the last couple of months. Ever since winning the 2023 Wimbledon Open, there has been a gradual dip in his performance, and his recent loss against Roman Safiullin in the first round of the 2023 Paris Masters was the biggest blow for the Spaniard, which came as a total shock to many.

Alcaraz recently opened up about his unexpected exit from the Paris Masters in a press conference before the ATP Finals. As per the former World No. 1 himself, he did not feel like doing anything for several days after his loss against Roman Safiullin. It made him realize that he has a lot more to work on.

YouTube video
The defeat in Paris was painful. For the first time in a long time, I didn't feel like doing anything for several days. This defeat made me understand that I had to work even harder and that's what I did.
Alcaraz said via WeLoveTennis

However, the Spaniard said that there is also a positive side to it as the loss allowed him to train well for the ATP Finals.

FS Video

But you also have to look at the positive side of things and losing early allowed me to train and come here in optimal condition. I think I did a good physical and tennis job. I feel pretty good.

Carlos Alcaraz has been placed in the Red Group of the 2023 ATP Finals alongside Daniil Medvedev, Andrey Rublev, and Alexander Zverev. He is the second seed in the tournament and one of the favorites to win it. The Spaniard will be playing his first match of the tournament against Alexander Zverev. The top two players from each group will head on to the semifinals. 

Carlos Alcaraz aims to realise the remote possibility of becoming the year-end World No. 1

When Novak Djokovic replaced Carlos Alcaraz as the World No. 1 following his victory in the 2023 US Open, it was expected that the Spaniard will bounce back soon, especially following the Serb’s decision not to play in the Asian swing.

Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic
Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic (Source: CNN)

Unfortunately, Carlos Alcaraz squandered his opportunity and dropped a disappointing performance in the Asian swing which took him further away from his dream of becoming the year-end World No. 1. 

However, he still has a very slim chance of becoming the year-end world no. 1. Carlos Alcaraz can still become the year-end World No. 1 only if he wins the 2023 ATP Finals and Novak Djokovic loses all his matches in the tournament, which seems far from possible. 

In case you missed it: