Carlos Alcaraz says what players do differently against him after surviving scare vs Matteo Arnaldi, ‘it’s a compliment’

After a narrow defeat to Matteo Arnaldi, Carlos Alcaraz reflected on the mental adjustments he makes when facing strong opponents. In a Japan Open match, Alcaraz battled back from a 6-2 deficit in the first set tie-break to defeat Arnaldi 7-6(6), 6-1. During a post-match interview, Alcaraz admitted that when he finds himself behind early, he consciously attempts to elevate his performance in the second set.

"When you're down 6-2 in the tie-break, you think you have to do something different in the second set, trying to be better, and obviously win in three sets," Alcaraz explained. "I think I changed a little bit the way how I played up to that moment, and it worked out." Alcaraz noted Arnaldi's exceptional level during the first set, praising his powerful forehand.

The victory allowed Alcaraz to return to the court more composed for the second set, capitalizing on Arnaldi's errors to secure a 8-6 win. When asked about players' tendencies to elevate their game against him, Alcaraz agreed that this is a compliment, acknowledging that it means opponents perceive him as a formidable challenge.

Looking ahead to his quarter-final match against Denis Shapovalov, Alcaraz expects a high level of play from the aggressive Russian. Alcaraz has won their previous three encounters, but Shapovalov recently reached the semi-finals in Chengdu, showing signs of resurgence. Alcaraz is confident and eager to face Shapovalov once more, stating he is "really looking forward to playing him once again."