Alcaraz : “Playing Jannik indoors is one of the toughest challenges in tennis, but I’m ready”
As he defeated Auger-Aliassime in only 83 minutes, Carlos Alcaraz took the time to share his feelings with the international media before his final against Jannik Sinner. He spoke with a pure mix of excitement and healthy pressure that promises a huge match.
Carlos Alcaraz, ATP Finals 2025
Carlos, it’s not even sure if you’ve ever played better on indoor courts than in the semifinal against Felix Auger-Aliassime. For example, you hit a forehand winner at 180 km/h. Do you agree?
Carlos Alcaraz: Honestly, today I felt incredible from the start of the match to the end. I think we showed a very high mental level and an extremely high level of tennis. I felt like I could do everything. Physically, I felt super, super well, which gives you a lot of confidence. It’s a great match ahead playing a final, and I think confidence is very high, for both Jannik and me. I know what I’m capable of on court after the level I showed today. I believe I can even surpass him, which will make for a very, very complicated but also exciting match tomorrow. We’ll see how it goes.
One key to your success today was that despite being aggressive, you made only ten unforced errors.
Carlos Alcaraz: Yes, that’s very important. It means I didn’t lose control. I knew when to be aggressive and when to be solid. I believe that balance is what I need to keep finding to gain even more consistency, and above all, to feel better on court.
Do you feel your level improved match after match during the tournament here in Turin?
Carlos Alcaraz: Yes, I think so. During the round-robin, I played really well, but I was playing for the number one ranking, so the nerves were definitely present. Dealing with that pressure was harder than now, coming into the semifinals. I think those nerves have disappeared and I can now focus on playing really good tennis. So, yes, I’m at a good level heading into the final.
In every Slam 128 players compete, eight players make the ATP Finals, and here you are again, a final Alcaraz versus Sinner. How do you explain it?
Carlos Alcaraz: Honestly, I’m just glad to find myself in the finals. It shows the level that both of us have played consistently throughout the entire season. Every time we face off, we raise our games to the next level. I think it’s a great rivalry for tennis, the ATP Tour, and most of all for the spectators. We’ve been working really hard for this.
He beat me 6-3 in practice. But practice is totally different from a real match atmosphere.
Carlos, how do you feel you match up against Jannik on indoor courts? You practiced with him earlier this week.
Carlos Alcaraz: To be honest, Jannik gives me some trouble easily. He beat me 6-3 in practice. But practice is totally different from a real match-up. Playing Jannik on indoor courts is one of the toughest challenges in tennis right now. He has a winning streak of 30 matches indoors, and we’re competing in front of his home crowd, which makes it even tougher. But I’m ready to take on that challenge and ready to play really good tennis.
Who would you say is the favorite for the final?
Carlos Alcaraz: (laughs) Favorite? Well, as the number one player, I’ve had a great season on all surfaces. However, Jannik is the best on indoor courts, and with the crowd here supporting him, I’d say he’s the favorite for those reasons. I don’t want to convince myself, but I guess he is.
What would it mean to win this tournament and become only the third Spaniard after Alex Corretja and Manolo Orantes to lift this trophy? Rafael Nadal never won it.
Carlos Alcaraz: It would mean a lot. Lately, I’ve worked really hard and stayed focused to be in great shape for this particular tournament. We have many important events on tour, but this one I targeted specifically. So coming here, playing well, and lifting the trophy would mean a lot to me. Especially beating Jannik and joining legends like Orantes and Corretja as Spaniards winning this tournament, that would be special.
The crowd definitely plays a role because it can elevate his game, and maybe I might feel some pressure. We’re going to try not to let that affect us.
Will the home crowd factor in? There are 13,000 Italian fans, and it’s a tight rivalry.
Carlos Alcaraz: Absolutely, and it’s no secret. We saw how the crowd cheered for Jannik in all his matches. It’s normal for fans to support their player, especially since he’s done so much for Italy. The crowd definitely plays a role because it can elevate his game, and maybe I might feel some pressure. We’re going to try not to let that affect us. We need to focus on ourselves, pretend no one’s on court, and block everything out to stay as focused as possible.
Years ago, you’d arrive here drained at the end of the season. Why and how are you feeling for tomorrow’s final?
Carlos Alcaraz: I think we’ve done very well, especially off the court. As I said, we’ve grown, learned a lot, gotten to know ourselves better and what we need. And in the final part of the season, we figured out how to manage training, rest days, and time at home. I think that has been crucial to arriving here feeling fresh, mentally motivated, and ready to compete at my best. For tomorrow, we feel better than ever.
