Carlos Alcaraz has won the hearts of many but not just with his incredible talent in the sport. More than his skill, the Spaniard’s personality has impressed the fraternity as he gives off the vibes of his idol, Roger Federer. The ATP star recently won the 2024 China Open but his compliment for the Chinese players caught much attention showing why he deserves to be celebrated off the court too.
Alcaraz won the 2024 China Open finals. He didn’t have enough time to celebrate as he landed in Shanghai for the Shanghai Masters. Continuing off his stellar form, he has already attained two consecutive wins. Post-victory, he revealed his feelings about defeating talented players from the country. Alcaraz didn’t play against Chinese ATP stars in the China Open. However, he faced off against Shang Jucheng in the Shanghai Opener and defeated the 19-year-old. He then defeated Wu Yibing in the Round of 32 by 7(7)-6(5)- 6-3. With an impressive performance, the Spaniard only showered himself in further glory as he had a polite outlook toward his Chinese opponents.
In a recent interview, Alcaraz said, “It’s great to see a stadium full supporting tennis and watching the matches. For me, it’s fine just to see the atmosphere. I know it’s not personal or against me; it’s support for my opponent. Having Chinese players in tournaments like this is great for them,” he said.
The Spaniard’s statement highlighted how much he liked playing in the Asian country. The Chinese fans’ love for the sport surprised him.
Carlos Alcaraz on how it feels like to play against the home favourites and see the crowd rooting against him:
“It's great to see a stadium full supporting tennis and watching the matches. For me, it's fine just to see the atmosphere. I know it's not personal or against me;… pic.twitter.com/672AQE96be
— Carlos Alcaraz Daily (@alcarazdaily) October 6, 2024
Now, Chinese WTA star Zheng Qinwen has already made a mark by winning her Olympic gold in Paris and reaching a Grand Slam final. Before her, Li Na has also been an inspiration in the sport. However, ATP players couldn’t put on much of an impression before. Their 2024 China Open performance brought them under the limelight. Now, following Alcaraz’s comment, it felt like he appreciated the Chinese ATP stars’ intense hard work to reach the top 100 ranking in the world.
In fact, when the Spaniard defeated the wildcard entry Wu Yibing at the 2024 Shanghai Open, he revealed great things about his opponent. Despite winning over him, Alcaraz’s statement showed his admiration towards the Chinese opponent.
Carlos Alcaraz called Wu Yibing “a really powerful player”
Alcaraz defeated the Chinese ATP star by 7-6(5), and 6-3 to achieve his 50th tour-level win this season. However, he was impressed by the fight Yibing offered to him. “He is recovering his level. He’s coming back from injury, but his level deserves to be at the top for sure. If he keeps playing at this level, I’m pretty sure I’m going to see him around more often. I’m just really happy to get through,” said the Spaniard.
Alcaraz didn’t just compliment him but revealed how tough the Chinese star was on the court against him. “I don’t want to say I was surprised, but it was the first time I was playing against him. He just beat [Nicolas] Jarry really easily, 6-2, 6-2, so that’s impressive. I had to be focused on playing my best. I’m not used to feeling the feelings I had on the court. He is a really powerful player, plays really strong, so I felt like I was not dominating the game.”
Carlos Alcaraz’s statement brought hope about the uprising of the Chinese ATP stars. It showcased that Asian players have the potential to reach the top 100 if they remain persistent in their hard work. If Alcaraz’s prediction remains apt, the fraternity might see a Chinese ATP star showing his charisma on the court soon.
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