“The finals are not played, they are won,” Carlos Alcaraz reveals his elite mentality prior to title clash with Cameron Norrie in Argentina
The former world No.1 makes an incredible return onto the court in the Argentina Open
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Carlos Alcaraz
After a four-month break due to injury, Carlos Alcaraz has resumed his impressive form. The Spanish player breezed past compatriot Bernabe Zapata Miralles 6-2, 6-2 in just 77 minutes to reach the final of the Argentina Open on Saturday. The top seed will aim to secure his first title of 2023 in his first tournament since last year’s Rolex Paris Masters.
Despite holding a 3-1 advantage in their ATP Head2Head series, Carlos Alcaraz is aware that he will face a strong opponent in the championship clash against second-seed Cameron Norrie. The 19-year-old Spaniard suffered a defeat against Norrie in their most recent meeting, which took place last year in Cincinnati. The 19-year-old also missed out Australian Open earlier this year and dropped to number two in the ATP rankings.
Speaking after the semis win, Carlos said “It’s a really special moment for me. I was a little bit down after the injury, so I had to recover in those four months the confidence and the rhythm. Coming back for my first tournament of 2023 and making the final is so special for me.”
Speaking about the upcoming finals, he said “The controlled nerves are pretty good: they keep you very focused and don’t let you get distracted at all. I am a very competitive player and I approach the finals with the following philosophy: the finals are not played, they are won. I keep that very much in mind.” He finally ended by saying “I have to give it my all, I can’t let the nerves of a final get in the way, stop me from letting off steam, having fun, or being myself on the court.”
Carlos Alcaraz’s epic injury comeback in the Argentina Open
Although he dropped a set in his opening match against Laslo Djere, Carlos Alcaraz has built up momentum on the clay courts in Argentina. The Spanish player, who won the Rio de Janeiro tournament last year, will look to add another South American trophy to his collection. During a point early in the second set of his semi-final match against Bernabe Zapata Miralles, Alcaraz impressed with an open-stance backhand winner up the line while fully stretched.
Zapata Miralles was left stunned, as Alcaraz showed he had the answers to all the challenges presented by his opponent’s game. With his consistent pressure from the baseline, Carlos Alcaraz proved to be a formidable opponent, punishing any balls that did not force him backward. The Spanish player won an impressive 55 percent of his return points and managed to break serve five times during his match.
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Santhosh Tenneti
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