Carreño's Change of Mindset: "Before tennis was my 100% priority, now I also enjoy other things"

Carlos Navarro | 23 Apr 2026 | 15.50

Carreño, in the press after defeating Fucsovics. Source: PdB

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Ten years. That's how long Pablo Carreño had gone without winning a match at the Mutua Madrid Open 2026, a strange drought for a player of his caliber, especially considering it's a tournament played at home. The Spaniard had barely clinched a victory his entire career at the Caja Mágica, a record disguised after narrowly escaping defeat in his debut this year against Marton Fucsovics, securing a comeback win filled with determination, a sense of relief, and a spark that continues to shine within the ATP circuit.

Throughout this time, the journey of the Asturian has been marked by great moments, unforgettable conquests, providing him with valuable perspective and experience. This sense of presence was evident in the press conference after his victory, lengthy and rich in reflection on various topics, from the current and future state of Spanish tennis to whether or not he considers himself a true role model.

Carreño reflects on his new and revitalized mindset: How does he view current Spanish tennis?

- Great victory, comeback included, against Fucsovics, with vital support from the Spanish crowd

"Having the opportunity to play at home... you have to take advantage of it, right? First of all, I have to thank the wildcard they have given me, the opportunity they have given me, specifically as a tournament, the tournament organization, to be here. It has been difficult years, very difficult years due to injuries, but well, little by little I am coming back, little by little I am feeling physically good again."

Last season, I was already trying to return to where I was before the injury, it will be challenging, but obviously, these wildcards always help. The support from the crowd has been beautiful. It was a tough match, the first set was difficult because I played very well, I didn't dominate, he hit very deep, I couldn't take control, and slowly in the second set, I fought there, I added pressure, the crowd as well, and in the end, all together we achieved the victory."

- Incredible Fact: first victory in Madrid... in ten years!

"I don't know. I don't have such a good memory, I don't know. I know I have won few matches here; it has never been a tournament that I have done very well in, due to the altitude and such. I also don't think it has been the tournament where I have played the most, because there have been a couple of times when I couldn't play it because I was in another tournament before and didn't have a ranking to enter the main draw. I hope that changes and I can continue adding victories."

- Matches like this one, he reflects, validate the sacrifice to return after a serious injury

"All the sacrifice I have made, all those difficult moments where perhaps you think things that you shouldn't, things that you wouldn't want to happen, but that in the end can happen... are for these moments. For playing on center courts like this one, playing at home, winning matches at this level, winning matches in these tournaments, in front of the crowd and my family. All of that is very satisfying; it is why I have kept fighting."

- Regarding whether he now enjoys tennis more, in this stage, after achieving all he achieved in his physical prime

"I have really enjoyed tennis a lot. Every year that I have played, I have enjoyed it. The years in which, unfortunately, due to injuries, I have not been able to play, that's when I have truly suffered. Being back on the court for me is very important. It means everything. It's what I have fought for, it's what I have always wanted to do and, obviously, whether in the Challengers I played a few weeks ago in Murcia and Alicante, or in the ATP level tournaments, you enjoy, but of course, playing a tournament like this is an extra, and doing it at home is another plus."

- What was the worst moment of this whole journey with the injuries? Did you think about quitting?

"The worst moment is when you have been trying to come back for months, trying to recover from the injury, and you see that every time you are close, you relapse. Those moments are very tough because you don't have a clear goal, you don't know when you will come back. In the end, I had to have surgery, those are also difficult moments, but I think that, fortunately, you have to try to forget it, you have to think that now my elbow is allowing me to play perfectly. The rest of the body, well, pains are gradually fading, but you have to try to control them and that's it. I am back to my normal routine, the routine of being a tennis player again and continuing to enjoy it."

- About whether you would prefer the return of the classic Masters 1000 format, with one-week tournaments instead of two

"With this format, there are many matches for those who reach the finals. Unfortunately, for me, this is the first one I play; I didn't have a ranking to play Monte Carlo, and unfortunately, I didn't have the chance to play the main draw in Barcelona because I wasn't invited. It's true that the two-week Masters 1000 events squeeze the calendar a bit, providing rest days between matches, but ultimately, they are days away from home, days in the tournament routine... for those who go far in these tournaments, mentally it is indeed many exhausting days, whereas for me, tournaments usually end a bit earlier. It's a discussion that can be debated at length because it's something on which everyone can have their own opinion."

- Next stop, Alejandro Davidovich

"I don't know if I've played against him before, I don't remember. It is true that he is in good form, has a very good ranking, and has been off for a few weeks due to an injury, so well, let's see if I can take advantage as I have a bit more rhythm than him and, well, start strong, finish strong, and see how it goes."

- Present and future of Spanish tennis with the new generation led by Jódar

"Having Carlos as a role model, who is still very young, Spain already has a bright future. It's true that Rafa and Martín have emerged, with Martín having been there for several years but maybe lacking a bit of confidence. Perhaps in the Miami tournament, he may have found it, and Mérida as well, who is winning many matches, already succeeding in ATP tournaments besides the final he has already reached. He is going through qualifiers, establishing himself there; hopefully, he continues to do so. Then, as you rightly mentioned, there's Pablito Llamas, who is also making an impact, despite a serious injury he had… I believe Spanish tennis always has talent. Years ago, or several years ago, when I was starting out, there were many players. Maybe not as many now, but still quite a few players. I'm not sure how many of us are currently in the Top 100, but there are now quite a few young players again, which is very positive news."

- On whether he considers himself a role model in Spanish tennis, a word used by several young players and fans when talking about him

"The truth is, I didn't expect it because now with Rafa, who is making great progress, achieving excellent results and rising in the rankings, he is one of the great hopes of the Spanish Armada. There's also Jaume, recovering from an injury, and I hope he gradually regains his level; he ended last year in the Davis Cup playing at a very high level. And there's Alejandro, who is in the Top 20, a player who has already established himself and has been there for many years."

I believe there are many more benchmarks right now than me, but little by little, I am trying to return there, because at one point I did achieve very good results, I accomplished many individual achievements, also at the Spanish level, and well, continue to give what I can."

- Changing perspective to look at tennis from a different angle

"Before, tennis was a 100% priority for me; now tennis is not my 100% priority. I have other things on my mind besides tennis, although every time I'm on the court or training, I try to give 100%, but once I finish, I have other distractions, other things to enjoy. I still really enjoy playing tennis, but I am also fortunate to enjoy other things off the court."

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, El cambio de chip de Carreño: "Antes el tenis era mi prioridad al 100%, ahora también disfruto de otras cosas"