Alcaraz y la bendita sensación de la normalidad: “Si me dicen que vaya a ‘full’, yo voy a ir a ‘full”

Carlos Alcaraz, the Spanish tennis player, has returned from a four-month and a half break feeling a sense of normality, as he told journalists after defeating Roman Safiullin in a straight sets victory. He described feeling as though he had forgotten how a match day typically goes, as he warmed up on court and found himself incapable of recalling his usual routine.

Alcaraz's teammates observed a significant difference in his approach to the media, as he now responded much quicker than before, only taking half an hour to attend to them after defeating Safiullin. The night prior to his match, Alcaraz witnessed Novak Djokovic's early exit in the Grand Slam, which had left him surprised. Reflecting on the unexpected nature of Djokovic's loss, Alcaraz remarked, "It's a big surprise that someone like him loses, even in such a prestigious tournament, where every round is incredibly challenging.

You need to earn your way through every point." He reassured the press that he would focus on each match individually, as he is aware that Djokovic's semifinal opponent was far ahead in the rankings. Alcaraz's path to the finals is now clear, with neither Djokovic nor fellow Spaniard Arthur Fils standing in his way. The French champion recently lost to Stefanos Tsitsipas in Cincinnati, with Alcaraz and Fils potentially having met in the semifinals.

On Tuesday, several Spanish players will compete, including Paula Badosa against Daria Kasatkina and Rafa Jódar against Thanassi Kokkinakis on court 17.