(Shanghai) Eliminated to everyone’s surprise in the semi-final of the ATP 500 tournament in Beijing a few days ago, the Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz said on Thursday that he was “ready” to get back up for the Masters 1000 in Shanghai, which he begins Saturday.
The world No.2, crowned at Wimbledon this year, declared having “lost his concentration” during his half two days ago against the Italian Jannik Sinner, 7-6 (7/4), 6-1 in the Chinese capital.
Asked on Thursday how he will be able to manage the pressure in Shanghai, he who will once again be favorite in the absence of No.1 Novak Djokovic, the 20-year-old simply replied having to “do (his) homework”.
“I only have one day to train and the tournament will start, but I feel ready, and I will change what I did wrong in Beijing,” promised Alcaraz during a conference of press, while recalling not having been “surprised” by Jannik Sinner, who then won in China.
“I know his level. He is one of the best in the world right now and he can beat anyone,” he said.
Carlos Alcaraz, whose entry into contention will take place against Frenchman Grégoire Barrère on Saturday, is participating in his first Shanghai Masters, an event canceled for the last three years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
A tournament that he “very much wanted to play” since his debut on the circuit, “it’s great to learn new experiences like this,” he added.
He could thus, in the event of a good result, get closer to “Djoko” in the ATP rankings, a first place which he has declared as “the main objective by the end of the season”.
