Alcaraz: "Every day I step onto the court is a gift for me, I don’t know when it will be the last"
The Murcian showed great caution regarding his aspirations in the US Open 2026 while speaking to the accredited Spanish media at the New York Grand Slam.
Carlos Alcaraz has unleashed a state of national optimism in Spain after reaching the quarter-finals of the 2026 US Open in grand fashion, showcasing impressive tennis against Tommy Paul and laying the groundwork for what many are already dreaming will be the conquest of the eighth Grand Slam title of his career. However, the Murcian has wanted to temper expectations and exercise restraint.
Not wanting to raise the roof is a sign of having a clear mind, and Carlos Alcaraz has been demonstrating for many years that he is mentally privileged. After addressing the international media in the press conference following his victory over Paul, the Murcian player took a few minutes to answer questions from accredited Spanish media in Flushing Meadows, and that's when his tone changed drastically.
Alcaraz tones down the euphoria surrounding him at the US Open
"I give myself a grade of 'notable' for what I've done in the tournament so far. I am happy with how things are going for me, but I know I still have a lot to improve," commented an Alcaraz fully aware that his advance to the quarter-finals puts him in a highly competitive scenario for which he may not have been mentally prepared at the start of the tournament.
He expressed this himself when speaking about the attitude with which he arrived in New York. "I didn't come to this tournament with any expectations. I just wanted to see how my body and wrist were doing after almost five months without playing. I was looking to enjoy the feeling of competing again. After playing four matches, I still have the same mindset," he stated before leaving a categorical reflection.
"I know that every time I step onto the court, it is a gift for me and I must enjoy it because I don't know when my last day here will be," assured a Carlos Alcaraz who is making something that is truly utopian seem simple and natural, such as playing at such a high level after so long without competing.
Returning to this level is not normal, and that is why Alcaraz exercises caution
What the Spaniard’s performance at the 2026 US Open demonstrates is that he is made of different stuff, that he is a special player who does not operate with the usual parameters of others, who need a lot of time to gain competitive rhythm and confidence. He has managed to make us all forget that he is coming off a complicated injury and that winning a Grand Slam immediately afterward would be inconceivable for the vast majority.
But Carlos Alcaraz is human, and that is why he wants to be cautious and point out that not everything that glitters is gold and that it should not surprise anyone if, now that more challenging contests such as facing Ben Shelton are approaching, some doubts may arise in his body, his tennis, or his mind.
In any case, nothing suggests otherwise, so it is advisable to listen to the Murcian and enjoy each of his matches at the 2026 US Open, after a few months in which he has been greatly missed.
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Alcaraz: "Cada día que salto a pista es un regalo para mí, no sé cuándo será el último"