Alcaraz denies injury influenced final, sets sights on Davis Cup in Bologna
The issue on Alcaraz’s right hamstring became apparent when he called for a medical timeout at 5-4 in the first set of his match against Sinner.
Carlos Alcaraz, ATP Finals | © Ch. Caillaud / PsNewz
Carlos Alcaraz downplayed the impact of a right hamstring issue on his performance at the ATP Finals final and confirmed his strong intention to represent Spain at the upcoming Davis Cup tie in Bologna.
“We are going to try to recover as soon as possible,” Alcaraz said in Spanish during the press conference following his loss (7-6, 7-5) against Jannik Sinner. “The idea is to go to Bologna on Monday, see how the hamstring progresses in the coming days, but my intention is to give everything I have to recover and be able to play well for Spain in the Davis Cup.”
Alcaraz : “The lose is because I deserved it”
When asked whether the injury affected his play in the second set, Alcaraz explained: “Well, obviously, when you hurt yourself a little, the thoughts are there. But after two or three more games, plus the break, plus the start of the second set, I was able to move well.”
“Obviously, the thoughts about how is going to be if I do crazy things that I’m used to doing, how it’s going to be, those thoughts were in my mind sometimes, he had previously said in English. Don’t get me wrong, because I’m not going to say I could play better or I could do something better if my hamstring were well. I could play a really good tennis with it. The lose is because he deserved it.”
“Not too many things wrong”
Alcaraz also denied that the medical concern would lead him to rush more in the second set. “I didn’t change the plan because of the injury, I changed it because I felt that I had to do something else, the Spaniard said. “I’m trying to be as aggressive as I can on court every match, but especially I think even more against Jannik. Every time that I can, just trying to go forward.”
“It worked, to be honest, because I was a break up. I was serving well. And then few mistakes that I didn’t have to do it, to be honest. In general, I think it was a great plan that I did today. That’s why I’m really happy with the level and the performance that I did today, because I think I did not too many things wrong, which is great.”
On a return
He acknowledged some limitations in certain movements, saying: “Perhaps there are times when I might try to run for the impossible balls, to slide for impossible shots. That has definitely been limited.”
The issue became apparent when he called for a medical timeout at 5-4 in the first set, after a return of serve. “I felt something the hamstring after trying to catch one serve” in Alcaraz’s words.
