ATP Finals, Carlos Alcaraz: “You have to play well even if you’re sick.”

The words of Carlos Alcaraz after his victory with Andrey Rublev

A reaction was expected and a reaction there’è was. He reacted like a champion Carlos Alcaraz, beating Andrey Rublev in just over an hour and a half and telling that he felt a little better in the post-match press conference than in his debut against Casper Ruud.

"I went on the court thinking that I had to play better than I did on Monday, and I tried to forget about not feeling very good, focusing on the fact that I have to play good tennis -explains Carlitos. “I had many options in mind if I couldn’t feel good from the back, but I’m glad it all worked out".

Friday, the world No. 3 will challenge Alexander Zverev in a super challenge that will be decisive for the passage of the round, more for the Spaniard than for the German. Alcaraz hopes to feel better and better as the week progresses, but explained how being sick should not be an excuse. "You have to play your best tennis even if you are sick – Carlitos explained – &This is what the best players do, even if they are not feeling well".

Everything is still open, then, as much in the group of Sinner and Medvedev (who will play Thursday night at 8:30 p.m. simultaneously with the national team) as in that of Zverev and Alcaraz. The qualification scenarios
are becoming intertwined and complicated, but in the meantime Carlitos is powerfully back in the running thanks to today’s win.

Giovanni Pelazzo