Carlos Alcaraz of Spain reacts after winning against Jannik Sinner of Italy during their men’s singles finals match of the China Open tennis tournament, at the National Tennis Center in Beijing, Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)
Carlos Alcaraz said he had got his love for tennis back having won a dramatic China Open final against world number one Jannik Sinner on Wednesday.
The four-time Grand Slam champion finally pulled through 6-7 (6/8), 6-4, 7-6 (7/3) in the longest men’s singles match in the tournament’s history.
Article continues after this advertisementThe Spaniard, who will return to number two in the world behind Sinner, was 3-0 down in the final-set tie break only to fight back and win in three hours, 21 minutes.
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The 21-year-old said the victory was all the more satisfying following a disappointing second-round exit at the US Open, where Sinner went on to triumph.
Article continues after this advertisementAlcaraz also went out in the round of 32 at the Cincinnati Masters in August.
Article continues after this advertisement“Probably after the American swing, I was a little bit down,” he said in Beijing, his trophy sitting in front of him.
Article continues after this advertisement“I didn’t want to touch a racquet for a while. I didn’t want to travel.”
He credited his coaching team with helping to drag him back to his old self.
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“After that we talked a lot during those days, knowing that I have to be back practising, be stronger physically, be stronger mentally just to overcome problems.
“The last month we’ve been working really, really hard on the court, off the court, just to be able to feel this moment again.”
His coach Juan Carlos Ferrero was in tears at the end and Alcaraz said it showed what it meant to him and his team.
“Thanks to them I started to get the joy back playing the matches, practising, I got motivated again,” said Alcaraz.
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“I really wanted to travelfreshbet, to play tournaments again.”
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