Alcaraz gives the key to winning in Cincinnati: "I want to play very aggressively"

Carlos Navarro | 11 Aug 2025 | 01.17

Carlos Alcaraz. Source: Getty

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It is never easy to get back into the circuit's dynamics after a three-week break. Carlos Alcaraz has historically suffered from this at ATP Cincinnati 2025, where he arrived last year still affected by the Olympics and has traditionally needed several matches to find his best level. His debut against Damir Dzumhur was no exception: he played a forgettable second set, but quickly left it behind to seal the victory with a third set that included some fantastic points.

Nothing is more important and necessary than a hard-fought victory, one that gives you a breath of fresh air. This is how Carlos Alcaraz understood it, celebrating with relief. He expressed this during a chat with Tennis Channel in a press conference where he assessed his performance today and also shared details about his vacations and three weeks of rest. Not only that, he also explained how he approaches matches like today's, when his best tennis isn't showing, and solutions need to be found.

- Assessment of his performance today against Dzumhur

"I would say I need to be better, definitely. I started the match very well, feeling the ball very nicely, but here, if you disconnect mentally, even for one, two, or three points, everything becomes even more complicated, it's harder to come back. In general, I want to feel a lot better in my next match."

- What do you do to secure a win on days when you're not playing your best tennis, on days when you 'play ugly'?

"In practice, we talk about being completely focused and thinking positively all the time. If things aren't going well, I think I should keep doing what I'm doing because eventually I'll improve, and things will go in the right direction. That's what I tried to do today: if I'm making a lot of mistakes, I know what my goals are in this tournament, how I approach each match, and I have to stick to that. I know those things will work out in the end."

- Have you reflected in recent weeks on the frenetic months you've experienced since the clay court season?

"I've thought a bit about these tournaments, yes. From Monte Carlo to Wimbledon, I played at a high level, yes (smiles). The best of the year so far, no doubt. However, in tennis, it's sometimes very hard to take time to reflect. You play tournament after tournament, week after week, and you have to be focused every week, it's difficult to think about all that. Luckily, I spent three weeks at home, reflecting on these months. I know my tennis is there, and I'll try to showcase it during this American swing."

- A smile on your face when asked about vacations and time off the courts

"I love having time for myself (smiles). I must be honest. I always say that's why you work: yes, I love playing tennis and being on the court, but sometimes it's too many consecutive weeks, so I need to spend time with my loved ones, at home, doing nothing. For me, it's necessary to return full of enthusiasm and hunger. I've had fantastic days, after Roland Garros, I went to Ibiza and returned stronger for the grass-court swing; after Wimbledon, I took a full week off, went to the south of Spain, and then spent two weeks at home. Having three weeks in the middle of the season for me to rest... sometimes I was thinking, 'What do I have to do?' It's something you never get used to."

- What would you like to see from yourself in the upcoming rounds of this tournament?

"I would like to continue playing very aggressively. The conditions are very fast, so if you're able to attack early, everything becomes much better. I would like to make my opponents suffer, keep feeling better. This tournament is fantastic, the people are great, I would like to play more matches here and continue feeling better day by day."

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Alcaraz da la clave para ganar en Cincinnati: "Quiero jugar muy agresivo"