(Nice) “I don’t realize that I won Wimbledon,” said Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz on Friday, winner of his second Grand Slam tournament on Sunday at just 20 years old and who is competing in Nice for the Hopman Cup, a mixed team competition.
“I still don’t realize that I won Wimbledon and beat Novak. It will take a few more days for me to believe it, ”said the Spanish prodigy, winner of Serbian Novak Djokovic on Sunday to clinch his second major title after the United States Open last year.
To explain his victory (in 5 rounds), after a defeat in the semi-finals at Roland-Garros against the same Djokovic during which he suffered from cramps, the world No.1 believes that he was “not well prepared mentally” before the meeting in Paris.
“I did better than at Roland-Garros, with mental exercises before the match which helped me to be more relaxed. At Roland (Garros), I couldn’t handle the pressure put on by Novak,” he explained.
“I wanted to be here to play this tournament (the Hopman Cup). We are not used to playing with women, in mixed doubles, I wanted to live this experience”, added the Spaniard, who “rested a bit” and has “not touched a racket since Sunday”.
In Nice, Alcaraz teams up with Rebeka Masarova. The 72e world player replaced Paula Badosa, injured in the back, last week in the Spain team which was to start its tournament Friday against the Belgium of Elise Mertens and David Goffin.
Alcaraz will then turn to the Masters 1000 in Toronto which begins on August 7 and then that of Cincinnati (from August 13).
“Toronto is important, I go into every tournament thinking I can win it, but of course my main goal is the US Open,” which starts on August 21 and where he will defend his title.
