World number three, Spain`s Carlos Alcaraz, spoke following his victory over Karen Khachanov at the Rome tournament. Alcaraz defeated the Russian with a score of 6/3, 3/6, 7/5, setting up his next match against Great Britain`s Jack Draper.
“I had to run a lot, fight for every ball,” Alcaraz commented on the Khachanov match. “Khachanov played at an incredible level, very high. He pushes you to your absolute limit in every single rally. You have to stay focused. I waited for my opportunities. That`s why there was so much running and fighting involved.”
When asked about facing Jack Draper again after their recent encounter in Indian Wells (where Draper won 6/1, 0/6, 6/4, though Alcaraz holds a 3-2 lead in their overall head-to-head record):
“I`m ready. I`m really looking forward to this match against him. He`s currently one of the top players in the world. His recent results clearly show how well he`s performing right now.”
“I`m looking for revenge for Indian Wells. This time, I`ll try to be better prepared. This match is going to be exciting both to watch and to play.”
Regarding Draper`s strengths, Alcaraz noted:
“He`s very consistent, very intense. In every rally, he aims to play as aggressively as possible, which makes him a very dangerous opponent. Each point is a battle. He has improved significantly physically, on his serve, and in all other aspects – he is a truly versatile player.”
Reflecting on the Indian Wells match and its changing dynamics:
“I remember the Indian Wells match perfectly. I started very poorly, I was quite nervous. I had to make some adjustments. In the second set, he experienced some physical difficulties.”
“I wouldn`t say either of us played exceptionally well throughout. I felt in the first set, he wasn`t doing anything extraordinary, just playing steadily, while I was making many mistakes.”
“In the second set, it was similar. I wasn`t doing anything special, I was just struggling and making errors again. I definitely need to learn from that match.”
“I will try to start the match better than I did in Indian Wells: find my rhythm and reduce my mistakes. I`ll aim to get into the game effectively, and then we`ll see what happens.”
“I believe both of us will attempt to play aggressively. The player who executes that better will come out on top,” Alcaraz concluded at the press conference.
