‘I’m just feeling better and better’ – Carlos Alcaraz gives insight into key playstyle change after reaching last 8

Carlos Alcaraz at La Manga Club

Carlos Alcaraz says that he is ‘feeling better and better’ on the clay courts of Monte Carlo, after he dispatched Daniel Altmaier 6-3, 6-1 to reach his first quarter-final at the prestigious event.

The Spaniard looked like he was in trouble against Francisco Cerundolo during his opening match, losing the first set 6-3, before going on to dominate the Argentinian 6-0, 6-1 in the next two sets.

Against the German, Alcaraz continued that form and only improved as the match went along.

“Honestly it was difficult, Danny [Altmaier] is playing great,” stated Alcaraz.

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“He’s a solid clay-court player with a difficult game: a lot of topspin shots and [he’s] really good physically. The score doesn’t show how difficult it was, I had to battle in the first set.

“It was good to get a break before the new balls, which helped with the serve. In the second set, I could be myself more, play more aggressively than in the first, and I took my chances.”

The former world No 1’s result means that he has now reached the quarterfinals of every Grand Slam and Masters 1000 tournament, apart from the Rome Masters – which he has only played once.

“I just felt more comfortable [compared to his first match],” continued the four-time Grand Slam champion.

“I think when you are coming to a new surface, you have to just play more time just to get better and better, to feel more comfortable.

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“From the first match, I realised how I have to play here on clay, that I have to be myself all the time. That’s the way that I enjoy playing tennis. Just playing aggressive just doesn’t qualify me, and I realised that after the first set in the first round.

“After that, I think I’m just feeling better and better. As much time as I spending on court, I think I’m going to feel better.

“Hopefully in quarter-final, let’s see how it’s going to be, but I guess I’m going to feel better moving, playing, so I think it’s going to be better.”

Alcaraz will next face Arthur Fils, who dominated former Monte Carlo champion Andrey Rublev 6-2, 6-3 in just 61 minutes.

The Frenchman is the only singles player to reach the last eight of the Indian Wells, Miami, and Monte Carlo tournaments.

“He’s playing great,” commented the reigning Roland Garros champion.