US Open champion Carlos Alcaraz claims Wimbledon will be the hardest Grand Slam to win after a late night out in Manhattan to celebrate opening his account with Flushing Meadows win
- Carlos Alcaraz was crowned US Open champion Sunday, beating Casper Ruud
- The Spaniard defeated Ruud in a four-set thriller to open his Grand Slam account
- Despite claiming his first major win, Alcaraz fears the hardest will be Wimbledon
- The 19-year-old celebrated his victory at a Spanish restaurant in Manhattan
Carlos Alcaraz feels that Wimbledon will be the hardest Grand Slam for him to win, having opened his account with triumph at the US Open.
The 19-year-old woke up on Monday as the Flushing Meadows champion and world No. 1. Having celebrated at a Spanish restaurant in Manhattan he addressed what will be the trickiest Major for him to collect.
Asked if that would be at SW19 he replied: ‘Probably. I love playing on grass, honestly, but I just played twice or something like that. But probably Wimbledon is the coolest one.’
US Open champion Carlos Alcaraz claimed the hardest Grand Slam to win will be Wimbledon
The 19-year-old opened his Grand Slam account at Flushing Meadows against Casper Ruud
Looking back on his successful New York campaign, he admitted he was exhausted, and that he had feared he would not have an energy after his quarterfinal win over Italian Jannik Sinner.
‘I’m really tired. It was really, really tough days for me. Since quarterfinals against Jannik, the days after that match were really tough. And honestly, I don’t know how I could play at as high level after the quarterfinals, high intensity.’
Having received a congratulations text from Rafael Nadal, whose crown he is already inheriting, he went out late after completing his media duties on Sunday night.
The Spaniard had feared he would be tired after his quarterfinal win over Jannik Sinner
Alcaraz had defeated the Italian (pictured) in a five-set thriller that lasted five hours
‘We went to dinner with all my team, my family and friends, we just stayed in the restaurant, we had a great time, we put music on, we have a beer, we have a bit of soul, you know. We had a great time there. Not too late. I mean, 1am. We have a friend here in New York and he has a restaurant.’
Alcaraz also conceded that it was difficult sacrificing a normal teenage life for this tennis, but that he hoped to catch up with friends from home shortly.
‘I love going out with my friends. Having lunch, dinner with them, stay with my family as well. And of course I love sport. When I can I want to do all the sports. I play golf, I play paddle. Sometimes I play football, but not too much. I’m an athlete and I love practising other sport. I am a Real Madrid fan.’
He was flying back to Spain last night and plans to be at this week’s Davis Cup group matches in Valencia, where his nation are trying to qualify for November’s finals. He intends to play but might sit the opener out.
Alcaraz received congratulations from Rafael Nadal (left) whose crown he is already inheriting
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