Carlos Alcaraz has been open about his level of physical fitness in front of his 2024 Olympic singles semifinal match in Paris.
The Spaniard’s thrilling doubles campaign against Rafael Nadal ended in disappointment, so now his only chance to win an Olympic medal is in the singles category.
In the coveted event’s quarterfinals, Tommy Paul of the USA faced Alcaraz, and the match was exciting. Paul had the opportunity to force a deciding after losing the opening set, but the World No. 3 fought back from a break down and saved a set point to win 6-3, 7-6(7), in just over two hours.
Though he and Rafael Nadal had lost 6-2, 6-4 to the American pair of Rajeev Ram and Austin Krajicek the previous evening, the 21-year-old played Paul in the second match of the day on Court Philippe-Chatrier at Roland Garros. Alcaraz had expressed worries before his quarterfinal matchup with Paul regarding his early time slot.
Following his victory, Carlos Alcaraz acknowledged that his physical condition wasn’t optimal but stressed that he won with “pure fight” and “determination,” speaking with Eurosport. The World No. 3 also disclosed that following the extremely “intense” conclusion to his doubles campaign against Nadal, he woke up exhausted.
“Today was a fight, pure fight, pure determination. Physically we are not at our best, we are not going to fool ourselves. Today I woke up quite tired because of yesterday, which was quite intense,” Carlos Alcaraz said (via Punto de Break).
However, the 21-year-old claimed that by concentrating on the more important objective at hand and drawing inspiration from his deep desire to succeed for his nation, he was able to push his tiredness from his thoughts.
“We are in the Olympics, playing for Spain, which for me is one of the most beautiful things in the world and that is what drives you up and what makes me not think about the tiredness, but give everything I have. I went out on the court trying to play with a lot of intensity,” Alcaraz said.
“I knew that Paul was a very electric player, he has great shots and I had to be very attentive, fight for every ball. In the second set I began to notice that fatigue, but I remember that I’m not playing for myself alone, but for all the Spaniards and that’s what motivates me to fight until the last ball,” he added.
In a highly anticipated Olympic semifinal match, Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada will take against Alcaraz. Auger-Aliassime defeated Casper Ruud of Norway 6-4, 6-7(8), 6-3 to secure his spot against the Spaniard.
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