Alcaraz, without expectations on this clay court tour: "The only thing I want is.."

Still carrying the hot Monte Carlo title under his arm, Carlos Alcaraz landed in Barcelona to face a new challenge, the Trofeo Conde de Godó 2025. This is where he won in 2022 and 2023, couldn't participate in 2024, and now seeks the hat-trick this week. Happy after his latest victory, clearly seen in his smile, the new World No. 2 went through a press conference to touch on various topics. Fifteen minutes of questions and answers that help us understand a bit better the moment he is currently in.

Demands from the public

"I suppose winning all matches 2-0, never losing (laughs). I don't know, the level of demand is high, although I recognize that there have been some results that, for some people... even for myself, have not been as expected. We are four months into the year and I have learned many things, now I give importance to what truly matters. There have been certain defeats that may have felt insufficient to many, but for me, there is no defeat that feels insufficient anymore; they are all learning experiences. So, I need to move forward. Talking is easy and free, particularly when someone has expectations and doesn't fulfill them, that's all I can say."

Several comebacks in Monte Carlo

"I'd love to win in straight sets, but the initial tournaments on each surface are always a bit more challenging. In Monte Carlo, I progressed from low to high; in the final, I was overly nervous, but I improved and felt better each day. Some days I started a bit tenser, gradually elevating my level until playing well in every match. For the body, this isn't ideal, of course—it's not ideal to always play three sets or such tight matches, but it also helps you get into the groove on this surface."

Adapting to a new tournament

"I arrived this morning, and this afternoon I will hit some balls to get a feel for the conditions. Physically, I have no discomfort, maybe a bit tired from this week, besides not having had days off to rest before Barcelona. But I'm eager, motivated; all of this drives me forward. That's how I feel here—very excited to play in Barcelona, hoping to be ready for tomorrow after today's training."

Building confidence

"Winning always helps, of course; confidence increases when you arrive at a tournament after winning the previous one. On clay, to feel as comfortable as possible, I need that kind of experience. In Monte Carlo, I didn't showcase a very high tennis level, but I believe that in attitude and determination, I stood out when facing challenges. I noticed that without playing exceptional tennis, I could pull through some quite tough matches. That truly gives me a lot of confidence."

New generation at the forefront

"Tennis is currently in a great moment; there are many young players capable of striving for big things and competing for major titles, as we've already seen with Mensik, a player who will continue to grow but is already established. Joao Fonseca is another player I love watching; he has a lot of charisma on the court, and his tennis is amazing. I played against Artur Fils for the first time in Monte Carlo and was amazed by his strength and level. We are in a time where there's a wide range of young players fighting and showcasing our strengths; this is beautiful for our sport."

Who is the favorite in this tour?

"I gained a lot of confidence in Monte Carlo; I didn't expect to win the title, I simply wanted to keep gaining rhythm and hours, but winning the title changes everything. Favorite on clay? Well, there are many players who can make a breakthrough in each tournament; currently, when you go to tournaments, there are 6-7 players who can win. I don't want to put myself as the favorite in the clay tour; I will go with minimal expectations, just aiming to focus on what truly matters to me: going out to enjoy. If I lose, I lose, and if I win, I win, but beyond that, I don't want to set more expectations."

Striving for his best level

"I don't think I am at my best level; this year I have played better matches than in Monte Carlo. There's a difference between winning and playing well; I've mentioned that in Monte Carlo, the tennis level wasn't very high, but mentally, and in how I faced adversities, I excelled. I consider that I'm having a good year; maybe the last month I played a bit worse, but I believe I have performed at a good level in almost all the tournaments I've played. Now, on clay, it's not easy to quickly pick up that rhythm and confidence, but we are trying."

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Alcaraz, sin expectativas en esta gira de tierra: “Lo único que quiero es…”