NEW YORK: Carlos Alcaraz, the defending champion of the US Open, faced an unexpected setback in the semi-finals when he was defeated by Russian powerhouse Daniil Medvedev.
Despite the disappointment of his early exit from the year’s final major tournament, Alcaraz is determined to use this experience as a catalyst for growth.
The fans at Arthur Ashe Stadium were firmly behind Alcaraz, urging the 20-year-old Wimbledon champion to push through and secure victory. However, it was the Russian third seed, Medvedev, who ultimately prevailed in a hard-fought match, setting up a highly anticipated rematch against 23-time major winner Novak Djokovic. Medvedev clinched the win with a score of 7-6(3), 6-1, 3-6, 6-3.
In the aftermath of the match, Alcaraz displayed maturity and self-awareness as he addressed the media. He acknowledged that he had believed himself to be a more mature player, capable of finding solutions when faced with challenging situations on the court. However, the loss to Medvedev led him to reassess his own growth as a player.
“These kinds of matches can happen even if I feel like a different player, more mature,” Alcaraz admitted. “I thought that you know, right now I am a better player at finding solutions when the match is not going in the right direction for you. But, you know, after this match, you know, I’m going to change my mind. I’m not mature enough to handle these kinds of matches. So I have to learn from it.”
Even though Alcaraz is known for maintaining his composure on the court, he confessed that he found it challenging to control his frustration during the semi-final, especially when he couldn’t mount a comeback in the second set.
Despite the disappointment of his semi-final exit, Alcaraz remains optimistic and focused on the bigger picture. He recognizes that losses like this are part of the journey for a young player seeking to make a mark in the world of professional tennis.
“I don’t think I’m going to dwell on this loss for a long time. Of course, I have to learn from it. I want to be better,” he emphasized. “You know, these kinds of matches help you a lot to improve and grow in these kinds of situations.”
