Indian Wells, March 16 (IANS) Carlos Alcaraz has said that his nerves and being too focused on Jack Draper’s strong game led to his defeat in the three-set semi-final to the British lefty at the Indian Wells Open.
Seeking a third consecutive title at the year’s first ATP Masters 1000 event in Indian Wells, the second-seeded Spaniard saw his 16-match winning streak in the desert come to an end after losing to Draper 6-1, 0-6, 6-4 in the semifinal.
“I always say that I have to be focused on myself, on my own game. I think today I was more worried about his level, his game, than myself… So when you’re thinking more about the opponent than yourself, then it is a big problem,” the former World No. 1 and four-time Grand Slam champion was quoted by ATP Tour.
“So that’s what happened today. Since the beginning of the day, since the morning, I was thinking about his game, because he’s really tough, he’s really solid, and it’s going to be a really physical match,” he added.
Alcaraz was seen having an extended conversation with coach Juan Carlos Ferrero before the match. Asked about the discussion, Alcaraz said, “It has been a difficult day for me. I didn’t practise well. I didn’t feel myself well on court.
“Even in the warming up on court, I was missing a lot. I didn’t feel my shots. So that’s why I was talking with Juan Carlos on the bike, because I was a little bit mad with myself about the way I warmed up on court.
“I didn’t approach the match in the best way that I could. So I was nervous during the whole day, in the practice before the match.”
Disappointed to see his bid end to join only Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer as three-peat champions in Indian Wells, thr Spaniard said he would use the defeat as a learning experience and motivation to rebound at the Miami Open, which begins next Wednesday.
“How much it’s gonna take to take the upset? Not too much. Not too much. Because I consider myself a person who learns from the fails, from the losses. The last time that I lost here was the semifinal; I won Miami, so I think I will go for it. I will learn from that match, and I will make the most of myself in Miami,” said Alcaraz.
–IANS
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