Carlos Alcaraz, “sad” about his level against Zverev

The Spanish tennis player Carlos Alcaraz acknowledged this Wednesday that he is “sad” about his level shown in the 6-1, 6-3, 6-7(2) and 6-4 defeat against the German Alexander Zverev in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, first ‘Grand Slam’ of the season, a tournament he entered “with a lot of confidence.”

“Starting the game at that level was a shame, but anyway I found a way to break his serve again and stay in the game. I had opportunities, at 4-3, in the fourth, I didn’t take advantage of them. I played good tennis in the fourth set, obviously not at my best level, but it was good,” said the Spaniard in the press conference after the match against the German tennis player.

Too many “ups and downs”

Alcaraz regretted his “ups and downs” in his tennis, in addition to not finding “a good serve,” against a Zverev who “subtracted very well.” “It was hard to deal with the pressure. That’s all. I have to improve. I’m still working on it and We’ll see in the future,” he added about the mental factor.

“I’m sad with my level, I was serving well and with a lot of confidence,” he reiterated, although “it has been a good tournament” for the Murcian, “happy” to have reached the quarterfinals. “I played great matches and obviously a Grand Slam qualifier is good. It’s not what I was looking for, but it’s not bad,” he added.

Alcaraz did not hesitate to thank the fans for their support during the duel against Zverev, even ensuring that he forced the fourth set “because of the public.” “They gave me energy. It was crazy. I was depressed, totally depressed, but they didn’t stop supporting me. So, probably, the comeback in the third set was thanks to them. Without them, I probably would have lost in three sets,” he confessed.

Finally, the world number two stated that the semifinalists “have the level” to beat Serbian Novak Djokovic. “It’s not easy, but I think it’s even more difficult in a ‘Grand Slam’. He has to face Yannik Sinner, who is playing incredible tennis. He hasn’t given up a set in this tournament. That means he has the level and the ability to beat Novak,” he concluded.