Carlos Alcaraz has revealed that he faced a new setback following his Australian Open exit.
The world No. 3 suffered a four-set defeat to Novak Djokovic in the quarter-finals. Djokovic later admitted he might have retired had Alcaraz taken a two-set lead.
However, Alcaraz has defended his performance in Melbourne, insisting it wasn’t a “missed opportunity.”
The 21-year-old returns to action this week at the ATP 500 in Rotterdam, marking his first appearance since his Australian Open defeat.
Alcaraz appeared poised to win their highly anticipated quarter-final when Djokovic took a medical timeout after losing the first set. Despite initially struggling, the 37-year-old Serbian fought back to claim a 4-6 6-3 6-4 6-4 victory.
Following the match, Djokovic admitted that if he had lost the second set, he might not have been able to continue. “If I lost the second set, I didn’t know if I would continue playing,” he revealed.
At the time, Alcaraz expressed doubts about whether Djokovic would have retired, and despite Djokovic ultimately withdrawing from the semi-finals, the Spaniard does not see his defeat as a lost opportunity.
“I don’t feel that it was a missed opportunity against Novak,” Alcaraz explained as the top seed in Rotterdam.
“I really wanted to win the tournament and felt I was capable, but Novak played an unbelievable match. Facing Novak in the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam is the toughest challenge. It was a great match, and I’ve taken the positives from it as I look ahead.”
After two weeks to reset, Alcaraz encountered another hurdle—falling ill upon returning home.
“I spent a few days at home after Australia, but I caught a cold. I was struggling for a bit and could only train for two days before needing to rest until I recovered,” he shared.
“But being home, even when you’re sick, is always great. Having your family around helps you recharge mentally and prepare for the next travels.”
The world No. 3 faces a tough opening round in Rotterdam against Botic van de Zandschulp, the Dutchman who stunned him in the second round of last year’s US Open.
“He’s a really tough player. I’ve played against him a few times already, and the last time I lost,” Alcaraz admitted.
“Now I’m playing him in his home country. I’ll enjoy my first match here in Rotterdam and see how it goes. The crowd will probably be against me, but I’m excited for the challenge and ready to give my best.”
