Alcaraz reveals the key to his victory against Ruud: "I started talking to myself positively"

Carlos Navarro | 29 Sep 2025 | 16.29

Carlos Alcaraz reaches his ninth consecutive final in Tokyo. Source: Getty

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The samurai's path continues on the right track. Carlos Alcaraz suffered like never before this week to advance to the final of ATP Tokyo 2025, but showed guts, willpower, and champion spirit to rise after a horrendous end to the first set against a very competitive Casper Ruud. The great display from the Norwegian, increasing his aggressiveness, hitting his backhand with conviction, and delivering very good passing shots, intimidated the Murcian for a certain stretch of the match, who activated his own serve to solve the dilemma.

It was not an easy match, but if there's something that Carlos Alcaraz is showing on Japanese soil, it's an extremely high self-confidence. The renewed maturity found in 2025 drives him to his ninth consecutive final, entering the territory of the Big Three monsters, all after a truly uncomfortable duel. The version of Casper Ruud that stepped onto the Ariake Colosseum would have cast doubt on anyone... but Alcaraz, despite losing the first set, revealed in the press conference the key to why he kept calm, didn't let the adverse score affect him, and ended up signing one of those victories that reaffirms you at the top of the ATP ranking.

"I was playing well, so the key was telling myself a couple of things and trying to play better from then on. That was the key: I calmed myself down, stayed calm, and started seeing everything much clearer. From there, I went for it. I had four break points in the first set, so I knew I would have more opportunities. It was about staying focused and as strong as possible. I started talking to myself positively: that was the key," stated the Murcian with all the calm in the world.

It seems, indeed, like a very accurate message and summary of all that was experienced: Carlos sped up his attacks towards the end of the first set, frustrated for not being able to seize one of the four chances to break the Norwegian's service, and a truly focused and steady Ruud capitalized on the slightest hint of doubt to take the first set. At the beginning of the second set, the opposite happened... and the rest is history: with a notable tennis level and an outstanding serve, Alcaraz imposed his law and advanced to a final where his last executioner awaits.

TAYLOR FRITZ, A PERSONAL VENDETTA

The reality is that Fritz poses a tall challenge for Carlos: he handed him his last defeat, in a Laver Cup where the American thrives, and also made him quite uncomfortable in Wimbledon semifinals where we were very close to witnessing a fifth and decisive set. For all these reasons, Carlos is aware that he will need to make small adjustments to counter the advances of the American, the second player with the most victories of the year, only behind himself.

"I know he has been playing at a great level of tennis lately. In the Laver Cup, he demonstrated it, against Zverev and against me, and he feels very comfortable and with a lot of confidence on this court, with very good victories. I'm going to try to change a couple of things. It is clear that the speed of the court and the atmosphere are very different from San Francisco, but it will be a new challenge for me. I will try to adapt the good things I've done today and change what I didn't do well in the Laver Cup. He has improved a lot, and it is clear that he is a better player every day that passes. We both flew from the United States together, so on the first day, I practiced against him, which gives me very good information on how to approach this match,"

It will be a high-flying duel between the number one and the new number four in the world, an opportunity to seek a small revenge and add a new title in a dream season. Get your popcorn ready and don't blink, because Tuesday morning promises a new great performance from samurai Carlitos.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Alcaraz desvela la clave de su triunfo ante Ruud: "Comencé a hablarme de forma positiva"

Carlos Alcaraz