Alcaraz values his latest great success: "Finishing the year as number one was a personal goal"

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Carlos Alcaraz is one of the happiest men on Earth tonight. It's no wonder: not only did he secure his spot in the ATP Finals semifinals after a magnificent victory over Lorenzo Musetti, but he also sealed the coveted number one in the world by the end of the season just days before drawing the curtains. A huge reward for his improved consistency, regularity, and calendar management... and a goal achieved, something he doesn't shy away from admitting.

But we know that Carlos Alcaraz wants more. He now treads into the semifinals of the ATP Finals 2025 and is aware that the adventure doesn't stop here: the Murcian aims to be the champion for the first time in this event, delivering the penultimate blow in a season of constant successes. For now, he himself stated in a press conference that there will be no celebrations, at least not yet: there is a great mission to accomplish, and for that, he wants to continue playing what he defines as a "great level of tennis".

Alcaraz reflected on what it means to end the year as the world number one and answered the question of whether this is the best season of his career

- Describing his feelings: in the ATP Finals semifinals... with the year-end number one spot secured

"It's a huge milestone. Ending the year as number one was one of my goals. After winning this match, I knew I had achieved my goal for the year, so it means a lot to me. I believe I am playing at a high level of tennis. I am excited to continue: I will be playing in the semifinals of the Masters Cup."

- Where he places this year playing on indoor hard courts, on a personal level

"I would say it's tricky to claim that this is my best season on indoor hard courts because I just lost in the first round in Paris. Here we are still in the semifinals. We'll see: I reached the semifinals here in 2023 as well, so I couldn't tell you. I don't play too many indoor tournaments throughout the year, which means I don't have as much experience playing on this surface. I just know that I'm feeling better after each match, hoping to feel even better in the semifinals."

- How the process has been to finally reach the last stretch of the season physically and mentally fresh

"First of all, I'm going back to the previous question: I forgot that I won Rotterdam, so... yes, I forgot (smiles). I would say that yes, this is my best season on indoor hard courts so far. It's always important for me to have time at home to prepare for these tournaments. It doesn't mean I will play well or not, but I'm happy to have arrived with confidence, knowing that I am at a high level. I had a very good preparation before this tournament. It's about knowing yourself, about what you need on and off the court. This year I have done it wonderfully."

- What elicits greater excitement at the moment of having achieved it: securing the number one spot or winning a Grand Slam?

"They are different emotions. Winning Grand Slams is always a goal: ending the year as number one as well, of course. However, securing the number one spot here is different because the tournament is not over, I still have a semifinal to play, the tournament continues. You can celebrate with your team, with the close people I have by my side, but right after that, you still need to focus on recovering, going to bed as soon as possible, being ready for the semifinals. When you win a Grand Slam, the tournament is over, you can relax, do whatever you want after achieving one of the greatest things you can achieve in our sport, which is a Grand Slam. Different feelings."

- After the withdrawals of Musetti and Sinner for Italy, opinion on the Davis Cup format and the difficulties to play it more frequently due to the calendar

"The Davis Cup is one of those events where it's hard to get used to because you play for your country and with your teammates, it's something completely different. It's one of the events where you feel most privileged, as you represent your country. I agree that something must be done because you can't play it every year. The Davis Cup isn't as good as if we played it every two or three years: if it were played every two or three years, the players' commitment would be even greater, as it's a unique tournament. I will play it this year, yes. I want to win Davis Cup one day because it's a very important tournament for me. Jannik has won it twice, Lorenzo also won it. I understand them, the season has been very long, and I understand they want an extra week to recover, go on vacation, do preseason... it's logical and normal. I would say they need to do something to make the Davis Cup even more unique."

- Best season of your career?

"It is indeed turning out to be a magnificent season. Consistency is something that has always been against me, and I have tried to work on it as much as possible. It has always been a burden, so I have tried to improve it, which I think we have achieved. I have managed to win or reach the final in almost every tournament I have attended, and that's what I hold onto. We have been able to turn around the beginning of the year: I think this is the best season of my career."

- Prefer playing the first or second semifinal?

"The less recovery time there is, the worse it is. It's not a big handicap, but it's not the same to finish at midnight and be in bed at 1 or 2 than to do it earlier. Recovery time, of course, influences being in the best conditions for Sunday."

- Learning to win matches when not playing his best tennis

"I have learned to win many of those matches, yes. Not winning, but competing, which is the most important thing. There are many factors that lead you to win or not, but I know that whether I feel good or not, I will compete and have the chance to achieve it. We try to find solutions in the matches, and most of the time, I know that the opponent will have to play at a high level despite my own condition."

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Alcaraz valora su último gran éxito: "Acabar el año como número uno era un objetivo personal"