Alcaraz is set to face Novak Djokovic in a blockbuster semi-final clash at the ATP Finals on Saturday. The 20-year-old won the Red Group in his debut at the tournament while the world No 1 came in second place for the Green Group, meaning they will now battle for a spot in the final.
It could have been a different story for the Spaniard this week, as his debut got off to a difficult start when he lost his first round-robin match to Zverev. It was his third defeat in a row following losses in the opening round at the Paris Masters and the last 16 in Shanghai. After that match, the 20-year-old admitted he was mentally exhausted at the end of a long season.
He was able to pull it together for his second and third group stage matches, however, beating Andrey Rublev and Daniil Medvedev in straight sets. And Alcaraz has now lifted the lid on an important chat with his coach that helped him change his trajectory in the tournament.
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“I feel that I am playing the same level that I’ve been playing the first part of the year,” the Spaniard said after beating Medvedev to book his place in the semi-final. “I spoke with Juan Carlos after the first match about giving everything that I have in this tournament.”
Although he previously admitted to mental fatigue, Alcaraz said he wanted to put everything into his final event of the season. The two-time Major winner continued: “It’s the last tournament of the year. It’s time to give my 100 per cent, my everything on these matches. I thought about it the day after in the practice and, of course, the match against Rublev. It was pretty good.”
As for what he changed in order to get two round-robin wins and top the group, Alcaraz said it was important to remain clear on how he had to play. “Of course, the key is to realise the level I have to play,” he added.
“Doesn’t matter if I win or I lose, just think about enjoying on the court, staying part of all the results, to [qualify] or not, just to put my own game, enjoy on the court. If I win, it is good. But if I lost, it was the same. I would say that was the key.”
And he will try to maintain that mentality when he faces Djokovic for the fifth time with a spot in the final up for grabs. The pair are level at 2-2 in their head-to-head with the Serb winning their last meeting in the Cincinnati Open three months ago, which went down to a final set tiebreak.
