Carlos Alcaraz admitted on Thursday that he had no time to revel in his China Open victory due to the demanding tennis calendar, immediately heading from the stadium to catch a flight to the ongoing Shanghai Masters. Alcaraz outlasted world number one Jannik Sinner in a grueling three hours and 21 minutes on Wednesday night in Beijing, yet by midday the following day, he was already addressing a press conference in Shanghai.
The 21-year-old has previously voiced concerns about the men's tennis schedule, stating it could be detrimental to players' health and calling for changes. However, on Thursday, he seemed to temper his criticism.
"The tennis schedule is incredibly tight; we move from tournament to tournament with only one or two days before the next one starts, so it's challenging, but we must adapt," the Spaniard explained. He revealed that he had to bring all his luggage to the stadium for the Beijing final and only had time for a press conference and a quick shower before dashing to the airport.
"I had to rush through everything... we arrived in Shanghai very late, so I didn't get as much sleep as I needed," he said, noting that it was 4 am (2000 GMT Wednesday) by the time he reached the eastern Chinese city. Alcaraz is set to play his first match in the tournament on Saturday against Shang Juncheng, who recently became the second Chinese player to win an ATP Tour singles title at the Chengdu Open.
"I'll approach the match the same way I approach every match, doing my best to prepare," Alcaraz stated. "I hope to continue playing as I have been, and we'll see what happens, but I'll be ready." Sinner will also compete in Shanghai, with many viewing the rivalry between the two as the emerging narrative in men's tennis.
"We're not close friends, but the respect we have for each other creates a good relationship," Alcaraz said on Thursday. Also in contention for the title is Novak Djokovic, who has won in Shanghai four times before and is aiming for his 100th singles title.
