Carlos Alcaraz’s hard-fought three-set victory over Tommy Paul had a bit of everything; break of servers, saved match points and rain interruptions. The Spaniard looked a frustrated figure as a string of rain delays held up his passage to the next round of Cincinnati Open. In the post match press conference, Alcaraz said that he likes to watch Hollywood movie’s clips during these delays to keep himself pumped up, particularly the movie Rocky
That technique to pass time clearly worked in favor of the 20-year-old as he came back on the court to wrap up the game comfortably against the American.
Carlos Alcaraz has the eye of the tiger
Carlos Alcaraz has admitted to watch the movie ‘Rocky’ during the rain delays to keep himself focused and pumped. Rocky, a film in which, a poor small-time club fighter gets an unlikely shot at the world heavyweight championship, is regarded as one of the most motivational movies of all time.
When asked how does he deals with rain delays, the Spaniard was quick to mention his team, who help him during these break in plays. He said he likes to talk to his coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero and also watch ‘Rocky’ to keep him pumped.
“I was with my team, you know, making jokes. We were talking, Juan Carlos and me, that I have to start very well, very aggressive, you know, really, really focused in the warmup, in the three or four minutes that they gave us to warm up. Of course help a lot to watch videos about Rocky that I did, so it help a lot as well (smiling). But you have to realize that it can happen, and, you know, try to be as good as you can.”
Alcaraz used all the motivation from Rocky to beat Paul and enter the quarter finals of the Cincinnati Open. The Spaniard will have his eye of the tiger set on winning yet another championship in the United States.
Alcaraz unfazed by poor conversion of break points
Carlos Alcaraz and Tommy Paul both exchanged break of serves during the start of the second set but the Spaniard was left frustrated by the lack of conversion of break points. The world number 1, had 3 break points in the first set that he failed to convert, before eventually winning the set in tie break. The same story continued in the second set as well, as Alcaraz continued to struggle to convert break points into break of serve.
Alcaraz admitted that it was tough to stay positive after losing so many break points, but added that he just kept his focus and tried to play his shots. The Spaniard could only convert 5 of the 16 break points in the match.
“Well, we have to clean, you know, that and the other things that came into my mind in that moment. Obviously I had a lot of breakpoints, and I just did 5, if I’m not wrong, and I had, like, 16, something like that, you know, so it was tough.”
Alcaraz also mentioned the importance of having a positive mindset through tough times during the game. Paul had a mental edge over the 20-year-old due to his recent results and Alcaraz said positive mindset helped him to comeback after losing the second set.
“Well, it’s not easy but I try (to focus). You know, in the rally, try to put at least four, five, six balls, and when I have the chance to be aggressive. That is my game but it wasn’t easy during the whole match. Yeah, I think that’s my game and try to be focused and to put in every match.”
Alcaraz would be delighted to finally get a win over Paul after his recent loss against the American. The world number 1 would be hoping to end this week with another silverware.
