ATP Tour

Alcaraz: 'I have nothing to prove’

Carlos Alcaraz is ready to launch his assault on Wimbledon, which will begin Monday against Fabio Fognini in the opening match on Centre Court, which is always reserved for the defending champion. He will do so as the same player he has always been — For the Spaniard, the key does not lie in playing to prove something, but in being true to himself.

“Most of all, I’m in no doubt that I have nothing to prove,” said the No. 2 player in the PIF ATP Rankings, who arrives in Wimbledon after 18 consecutive wins, earning himself consecutive titles in Rome, Roland Garros and Queen’s Club in the process. “It’s my life and I live it the way I think is correct. The key is not to think about what people say, or their expectations, but to focus on what I really need and what makes me feel good.”

For the Spaniard, who will be attempting to claim his third consecutive title at The All England Club, there is peace of mind in having his people around him, and that is essential to playing his best tennis. Family, team and friends provide a buffer that allows him to concentrate on what is important.

“They play an essential role,” the five-time Grand Slam champion said. “Being with them helps me forget about everything going on externally. That feeling is very necessary. It helps me so much when it comes to returning to tournaments with the desire to train and play my best every day.”

Carlos Alcaraz: It All Adds Up

In order to share more time with those who are close to him, Alcaraz has chosen to rent a house with his team, just as he has in previous years. Rather than stay in a hotel, he enjoys a warmer atmosphere that allows him to unwind in his free time.

“All of us being together in a house creates more of a family atmosphere,” Alcaraz said. “Throughout the year we go from hotel to hotel, and although that’s fine, it’s not the same. Here we make more plans, we play board games... That really helps me relax and enjoy myself more, both on and off the court.”

During the week leading up to his opener at the season’s third Grand Slam tournament, Alcaraz has shared a court with the likes of Novak Djokovic, Alex de Minaur, Flavio Cobolli and Joao Fonseca, one of the fastest-rising stars on the ATP Tour. The Brazilian, who has said he would like to follow in the Spaniard’s footsteps, left quite an impression.

“I was really looking forward to practising with him,” Alcaraz said of the 18-year-old Fonseca. “He’s incredible, not just as a player, but as a person too. Today we didn’t talk so much about tactics and technique, more about other things. But if he needs something someday, he knows where to find me.”

Alcaraz’s first-round match at Wimbledon will be against Fognini, whom he has previously played twice in Rio de Janeiro (the 22-year-old leads their Lexus ATP Head2Head 2-0). However, the Murcia native is not taking anything for granted against the Italian, warning that it is easy to get tripped up in the early rounds.

“It’s going to be a great match,” Alcaraz said. “Fabio is a very talented player, he always provides great moments, good shots, good points. The early rounds can be dangerous, so we have to be really focused, play our best level and enjoy ourselves.”