Carlos Alcaraz put himself at the top of the Roland Garros favourites list alongside players like Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Stefanos Tsitsipas.
You don't have to watch Carlos Alcaraz too much to understand that he's oozing with confidence. The Spaniard has every reason to as he was rarely beaten this year and he's only getting started. A heavy favourite in the Madrid Open final, Alcaraz is already thinking ahead.
He spoke to Marca after his semi-final win over Coric admitting that he's feeling really good ahead of what will be a huge swing for him at the end of May. Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Stefanos Tsitsipas; all can win the event, and Alcaraz declared he's the favourite.
There are Tsitsipas, Djokovic... If Rafa goes, it will always be his tournament. And I put myself at the top of the list.
It's a bold statement but it's coming from a place of comfort. He said a similar thing last year when he won the Madrid Open admitting that he's ready to win a Grand Slam but his choice of words is not careful as they were last year.
He openly declared himself at the top of the list of favourites believing himself fully capable of doing so. Some of that confidence comes from the US Open which he already won but the other comes from the reality of the tennis landscape right now.
Tsitsipas is not playing that well, Djokovic hasn't played that well and Nadal hasn't played at all. Even the man that beat him in Paris last year - Alexander Zverev, isn't playing that well. Alcaraz demonstrated that very vividly during their match at this year's Madrid Open.
If you don't want to be a tennis player, no matter how much you have that gift, you won't get anything. In my team, many players have told me that they pointed out ways and stayed on the road. You have to combine talent with work. Without wanting to be the best, you never go to be nobody.
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