Carlos Alcaraz has dismissed pressure on his shoulders to create more history after winning the Australian Open title.
The Spaniard claimed the career Grand Slam after he won in four sets against Novak Djokovic in his first Australian Open final.
It means Alcaraz is the youngest ever player to achieve the career Grand Slam as he claimed a seventh Grand Slam title in Melbourne.
After the match Alcaraz explained what happened in this match in comparison to other meetings against Djokovic as he revealed his admiration for the Serb, “Well, it was a different preseason for me, so I just had to came back from unusual situation for me, which was difficult. A lot of people were talking about everything and having doubts about, you know, my level in this tournament,” Alcaraz revealed in his press conference.
“So, you know, every year that I came here to Australia I was thinking about getting the trophy. Couldn’t happen. Couldn’t go farther than quarterfinals. You know, coming this year, hungry for more, ambitious for getting the trophy, and being strong mentally enough, not hearing anything or any words from the people. And then just playing a good tennis in this tournament means a lot, means the world to me, and it is a dream come true for me.
“Doesn’t matter if this time I won. You know, every time that I’m able to feel that aura from him on the other side of the net, for me it’s a privilege. It’s an honor, and it is like a master class for me to try to learn as much as I can.
“I have huge respect to him as an athlete, as a person, and I’m just really grateful to be able to live experiences on and off the court. That embrace was about respect, I guess.”
It’s clear Alcaraz has huge respect for Djokovic as he continues to match the Serb’s career and is well on his way to doing that.
The Spaniard is the youngest ever player to achieve the career Grand Slam but admitted it hasn’t quite sunk in what he has achieved yet, “I’m going to say tennis really beautiful, but what the bad part of tennis, it is we have tournaments week after week after week, and sometimes you don’t realize what you’ve been doing lately, because you know, once you finish tournament, you got to be prepared or your mind is about, you know, going to the next tournament,” Alcaraz explained.
“So sometimes you don’t stop yourself and think about what you’re doing. What I’ve learned, you know, this year is about appreciate and enjoy every single second of the moment you’re living. Not only lifting the trophies, but playing tournaments, playing tennis, getting victories, getting loses. Whatever it is, just enjoy and appreciate the life you’re living.
“So right now I’m just trying to have a time to realize what I’ve been doing. Yeah, I know I’m doing history with some trophies, some tournaments, some achievement that I’ve been getting. For me it’s an honor to put my name on the history books.”
Now, Alcaraz will aim for more achievements to add to his impressive and young career as he continues to share a rivalry with Jannik Sinner.
The world number one said that the motivation for success is not losing but insisted he has no pressure to achieve any more history than he has done so far, “Well, I hate lose, so that’s my motivation,” the Spaniard said with a smile.
“Trying to lose as less as I can. Yeah, there are some tournaments that I really wanted to win at least once. A few Masters 1000 I just really wanted to complete all the Masters 1000, trying to win at least once, you know, every Master. Obviously the ATP Finals and the Davis Cup.
“The Davis Cup, it is a goal as well. I really wanted to achieve that for my country, for Spain. I set up some other goals for the season, and I will try to be ready for, or to try to get those goals.
“Well, it’s going to be a big challenge. Those are big words, to be honest. You know, I just want it to be one at a time. Right now next one is French Open. I have great memories in that tournament. I feel really special every time that I go there.
“So I don’t want to put myself in a really pressure position to have to do it, but you know, it’s going to be great. Right now I will try to be ready, to work hard, you know, to just recover and practice well to play a good tournament in the next Grand Slam.”
