The on-court interviews at Wimbledon are often entertaining, especially if the winning player is willing to lean in and go along for the ride with the sometimes silly line of questioning.
They usually are, too, which is especially good news during the first week of the Championships when the matches are generally lopsided affairs between a top player and a huge underdog. Fans who had to endure a snooze-fest want something else to remember before Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, or Aryna Sabalenka, etc. leaves the court.
For Alcaraz, the light-hearted subject so far this fortnight has been golf–which he has been playing with Andy Murray on his off days during Wimbledon. The head-to-head score was 1-1 heading into Saturday, but now it sounds like Murray has a 2-1 lead.
“I don’t remember playing a match yesterday,” Alcaraz joked following his four-set win over Andrey Rublev in the fourth round on Sunday night. “No, I have to say he beat me. We were playing in his home, so it could be really bad for him if I beat him. So I let him win.”
“I’m just trying to play as much golf as I can (on) my days off during the tournament,” the 22-year-old added at his press conference. “(Also) when I’m having some days off at home. It is a sport that is really helpful for me to switch off my mind a little bit. A match in golf is always welcome for me…. (I) just have to improve a little bit, my golf.”
On the tennis court, it’s hard to see how Alcaraz can get any better right now. The world No. 2’s winning streak extended to an amazing 22 matches with his victory over Rublev. Although he has not exactly been dominant so far this fortnight, Alcaraz showcased his best tennis of his current stay at the All-England Club in the final three sets against the Russian after he dropped the opener in a tiebreaker.
Alcaraz’s surge from a set down was highlighted by a remarkable break-point conversion at 3-3 in the third.
“On the break point he played (an) unbelievable shot, unbelievable pass,” Rublev lamented. “And that’s the story; the set went away.”
“Today I just played my best match so far in the tournament,” Alcaraz assessed. “(I’m) just feeling great. I’m just really proud and happy that today (was) much better than the previous matches. Hopefully (I’ll) keep it going and feel even more comfortable.”
That’s a scary proposition for Cameron Norrie, who is next up for the two-time defending champion. Norrie, who held off Nicolas Jarry in five sets, is a respectable 2-4 lifetime in the head-to-head series and has won two of their last three meetings.
nice one, Carlos
What is it about tennis players and golf
Go on Carlos, forget golf, go on and win the whole god damn stinking thing