Carlos Alcaraz: ‘I have new goals for the end of the year’
Carlos Alcaraz is prepared for the rest of the season as he adjusts his expectations following his US Open triumph.
The world number one has now claimed his first tour match win since the US Open after losing in the first round in Astana at the start of the month. Alcaraz defeated fellow Next Gen talent Jack Draper 3-6, 6-2, 7-5 to advance to the second round of the ATP 250 Swiss Indoors Basel.
“It feels great obviously,” Alcaraz explained of being world number one. “But I have tournaments ahead. So I have no time to enjoy the number one, the US Open. I now have new goals at the end of the year, new tournaments.
“So I have to be focused, I have to be prepared for the new challenges this year. But obviously it’s a great feeling.”
Carlos Alcaraz is making his debut in Basel. Last year he opted to play in Vienna at this point in the calendar, reaching the semi-finals. He chose Switzerland this time around as Daniil Medvedev and Stefanos Tsitsipas lead the draw in Austria.
“I played last year in Vienna,” Alcaraz continued. “And this year I wanted to play here in Basel, to try new tournaments. I’ve never been here in Switzerland, never been here in Basel. So I wanted to try new countries, new tournaments.
“Of course after this first match I felt like home. So thank you very much and of course I enjoy my time here in Basel.”
Alcaraz will face either Botic van de Zandschulp or Adrian Mannarino for a place in the quarter-finals next.
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