Carlos Alcaraz reached his goal of progress at the Mutua Madrid Open. He faced Rafael Nadal in the quarterfinals, defeating the British Cameron Norrie. in the duel that the people want and in the organization of the Madrid event.

Alcaraz and Nadal will seek a spot in the semi-finals on Friday. They have faced the Balearic twice before, who always wins. On this occasion, however, the veteran, still fine-tuned after his rib injury, feels that his rival, the young man from Murcia, has more options for victory. “I’m going to say the opposite of what you said. One of the best players in the world and the best player in the world on the ground. Even though he says I’m the favourite, it’s not good. yet in shape, he’s coming from an injury, but You should always think of Rafa as a favorite because here he’s already won five times and everything he’s accomplished on clay,” Alcaraz said.

“I’m the newcomer, the new kid who shouldn’t be subjected to any pressure when playing against one of the greatest players in history,” said the El Palmar tennis player, who turned nineteen this Thursday. “I will give my 100%. I will try to show my best level. Of course I dream and fight to be the best. As I said, to be the best you have to beat the best. I think I’m ready to achieve that,” warned Carlos Alcaraz, feeling the support of the stands.

“I feel very happy when people cheer me up and support me. I think Rafa is more Rafa in Spain. Gradually people support me and they want a little more but Rafa has been with us for years. Many more people know him. I hope there will be a small number of people who support me, but I’ll be ready to know that people will support Rafa a little bit more than I do”, thought the Spaniard, who needed three sets to beat Norrie “I lost. The second set was very competitive. Everything was very even. It could have fallen from anywhere. But when I lose the second set, I have to clear my mind and start the third set as if it were the beginning of the game. I think I started very well. I never let him play his game. I think this helped me through the third set. Physically it was a long game. “Now I will do my best to recover as much as possible for Friday’s game.”

“I think it’s always difficult to play against Rafa, against the best players,” he said. “Of course I’m going to think about myself to gain momentum in difficult moments. It’s going to be difficult, and I’ll also try not to think if you think about who you’re playing against. I’m a normal player and I’ll try to get any nerves I might have. Not thinking I’m going to play against the best player in clay. Not to show Rafa that I’m nervous, that I have talent. Play a good game,” said Alcaraz, especially remembering the other duels with Nadal that were played at Caja Mágica a year ago. “I remember him I left very nervous. I couldn’t find my game. I couldn’t find myself on the field. I couldn’t control myself both mentally and physically and it was difficult for me. I think that I am a completely different player now, I am a player who can manage my emotions, handle those difficult moments of the match and know what is going on,” said Alcaraz. “To face this match, it is very important to know how to manage your own emotions. emotions, to know how to manage, to see where you do well at which moments of the game and to improve moment by moment. Now I think that I am a player who knows the minus point and can improve it. It will be very important to read the match,” added the Spanish tennis player.

The ninth player in the world, who will be at least seventh in the standings on Monday, stressed that the match “is special to me. It’s great to play against Rafa and especially here in Madrid. But I’ll try not to think about it. There’s too much about it. I just don’t think it’s another game.” “I’m going to try, one quarter-final, I’ve already played a few quarter-finals. I’ll try to handle the pressure, the nerves, and to show a good level of tennis. I’ll also try to control myself mentally.”