Alcaraz Reveals Djokovic & Nadal's Impact on His Lightning-Fast Injury Recovery
ATP
Carlos Alcaraz has made an incredibly fast recovery from an injury to reach the semi-finals of the 2023 Indian Wells Open.
Alcaraz had to withdraw from the 2023 Australian Open earlier this year due to injury. Only a few weeks after that, he played on the clay courts in Brazil and once again injured himself in Rio de Janeiro.
Although he had to battle those injuries, the 19-year-old is back on the tennis courts and doing well at the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Indian Wells, where he reached the semi-finals.
In the quarter-finals of the event, he beat Felix Auger-Aliassime for the first time in his career, and he was very happy about the win afterward.
"I feel great. It’s an amazing feeling to come back this year and make the semifinal again. Beating such a great player as Felix for the first time, I’m really happy with my level and the way that I’m playing."
When asked about his fast recovery, the young Spaniard admitted that he followed injury recoveries of the likes of Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal to look for inspiration.
"I am not surprised so much because I am a player who learns really fast. I look to the big players, Djokovic or Rafa. When they are coming from an injury and probably have a great percentage to win the tournament after an injury."
"So I looked at them a little bit when I was injured and training. They motivate me to play agood game after an injury in my first tournaments. I was surprised when I won Buenos Aires, but right now, I’m not surprised about it."
In the semifinals, the Spaniard can expect another difficult battle. Jannik Sinner, who already beat him twice, defeated the defending champion Taylor Fritz and so he'll meet Alcaraz for the final spot.
"I'm really happy to play against him again. Great battles. I enjoy the matches against him. I would say it's going to be a really good match, for the fans as well, to watch that match."
"And for myself as well. I will try to show my best, to show my 100 per cent. Jannik is playing great. I'm going to enjoy that match."
