Carlos Alcaraz says aggression helped him vs Jack Draper: Didn't let him dominate
Carlos Alcaraz said that playing aggressively helped him beat Jack Draper in the Italian Open 2025. On Wednesday, May 14, the 22-year-old Alcaraz took an hour and 37 minutes to win the quarterfinal match 6-3, 6-4 on Centre Court.In the first set, Alcaraz found himself under pressure after Draper went 4-2 up with a break of serve. But the Spaniard responded brilliantly with back-to-back breaks and closed out the set in 42 minutes.advertisementAlso Read: Watch: Aryna Sabalenka responds strongly to heckler in clash against Qinwen Zheng
Alcaraz earned an early break in the second set, but Draper earned it back immediately to make it 1-1. At 4-4, Alcaraz drilled the final nail in the coffin with his fourth and last break of the match. The youngster said that he didn't let Draper dictate terms in long rallies.'I think the most important thing I did today was not thinking if I was up or down, just trying to do the things that make me happy on court. Trying to play aggressive, hitting good shots, drop shots, and going to the net. That's what I like to do on the court. I think that's what made the difference today.Carlos Alcaraz turning defense to attack against Jack Draper in Rome.Great movement.Gorgeous forehand down the line passing shot to win the point.So good.pic.twitter.com/fW1O8K1pCC— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) May 14, 2025advertisement'I played at such a high rhythm during the whole match. I didn't let him dominate or stay long in the rallies. I think that was a really good weapon today for me. Really proud of the way I approached the match,' Alcaraz said in the on-court interview.Alcaraz gaining back confidenceAlcaraz made his comeback in Rome after missing the Madrid Open due to the groin and hamstring injuries he sustained in Barcelona. However, Alcaraz, who will be defending his French Open crown later this month, said that he has started to gain confidence.'I just feel like I'm playing great tennis on clay. I think I started the clay season really well. It was a shame I got injured after Barcelona. It's always difficult to be in shape for the whole swing. All the tournaments. Just to accept it, keep going. Try to recover as well as I can. I'm happy I'm feeling the good rhythm and feeling the good tennis again on clay here in Rome. These matches give me a lot of confidence,' Alcaraz added.In the semi-final, Alcaraz will be up against Lorenzo Musetti, who handed Alexander Zverev a shock straight-set defeat in the quarters.
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Hindustan Times
28 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Carlos Alcaraz beats Sinner in longest-ever French Open final: Which earlier Roland Garros title clash held the record?
Fans were entertained to pure tennis on Sunday at Roland Garros, as defending champion Carlos Alcaraz came back from behind to defeat Jannik Sinner in the French Open 2025 men's singles final. The Spaniard showcased immense resilence after going two sets down. It was Sinner, who took early control, and won the first two sets, 6-4 7-6. Then Alcaraz came up with the perfect response, winning the third set (6-4), and then also clinched the fourth (7-6). The fifth set was pushed to a tie-breaker and it was the Spaniard who reigned supreme, winning it 10-2 and also clinched the final set, 7-6. It was also the longest-ever Roland Garros final, lasting five hours and 29 minutes. Before Sunday, the longest-ever French Open final in the Open Era took place in 1982, when Mats Wilander beat Guillermo Vilas in four hours and 47 minutes. Speaking after the match, Alcaraz praised Sinner, and said, 'I am pretty sure you are going to be champion not once, but many, many times. It is a privilege to share the court with you in every tournament.' 'I am just really, really happy to be able to make history with you in this tournament, in other tournaments; you are a huge inspiration to young kids and to me.' He also thanked the fans, who played a key role in his win. 'Then Paris, guys, I mean, you have been a really important support to me since the first practice, since the first round,' he said. 'You were unbelievable. You were insane for me. I mean, I just can't, can't thank enough, you know, to you for the great support during the whole week, for today's match. 'For today's match, you were really, really important. You are in my heart and you'll always be in my heart. So thank you. Thank you very much, Paris. And see you next year,' he added.
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
Inside the iconic Roland Garros where every little detail is a cinematic spectacle
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There's activity, people rushing about, food and drink dished out, money being spent and earned but at Roland Garros, there always seems room to breathe. Roland Garros occupies the least space of any of the four Grand Slam venues but when it comes to court real estate, the Chatrier's surface is bigger than Australia's Rod Laver arena, Wimbledon's Centre Court and the US Open's Arthur Ashe stadium. Wandering around the RG or up on the top-most floor of the Chatrier, there can suddenly be random sightings of the top of the Eiffel Tower. It is all tres tres Paris but there again, underneath the imagery and the optics lies a humdrum fact. Paris's most famous and overused symbol is still a working telecommunication and broadcast tower, its blinking red lights daily proof that it is relaying digital television and FM radio signals. 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The Hindu
3 hours ago
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French Open 2025: It's a privilege to make history with you, Alcaraz tells Sinner after defending title
French Open champion Carlos Alcaraz praised his rival Jannik Sinner after their burgeoning rivalry offered the Roland Garros crowd a vintage final clash at Roland Garros on Sunday. Spain's Alcaraz retained his title after saving three match points to beat world number one Sinner 4-6, 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-6(3), 7-6(10-2) in the longest French Open final since tennis turned professional in 1968 - a battle lasting five hours 29 minutes. 'I am pretty sure you are going to be champion not once, but many, many times. It is a privilege to share the court with you in every tournament,' Alcaraz said on court after ending Sinner's 20-match winning streak at Grand Slams. 'I am just really, really happy to be able to make history with you in this tournament, in other tournaments; you are a huge inspiration to young kids and to me.' Alcaraz has now won his five Grand Slam finals and handed Sinner his first defeat in a major final after the Italian claimed his first three at the Australian Open (2024 and 2025) and U.S. Open (2024). ALSO READ: Sinner prepares for sleepless night after dramatic loss to Alcaraz at French Open Alcaraz thanked the court Philippe Chatrier crowd for their support, which he said helped him throughout the tournament. 'Then Paris, guys, I mean, you have been a really important support to me since the first practice, since the first round,' he said. 'You were unbelievable. You were insane for me. I mean, I just can't, can't thank enough, you know, to you for the great support during the whole week, for today's match. 'For today's match, you were really, really important. You are in my heart and you'll always be in my heart. So thank you. Thank you very much, Paris. And see you next year.'
