Carlos Alcaraz has shared his sentiments about his performance in the Australian Open, having progressed to the fourth round for the first time.
The two-time Grand Slam champion has emphasised his aim to sustain his level throughout the entire season, acknowledging that he lost some matches he should not have after Wimbledon last year.
On Saturday, Alcaraz reached the last 16 of the competiton when his third-round opponent, Juncheng Shang, retired due to injury with the Spaniard leading 6-1, 6-1, 1-0.
The second-ranked player in the world, participating in his third Australian Open after being absent from the 2023 edition due to injury, has surpassed his previous achievement of reaching the third round in 2022.
The 20-year-old Spaniard is set to compete against the 24-year-old Serbian, Miomir Kecmanovic, ranked 60th globally, in the round of 16, following Kecmanovic's five-set upset against the 14th seed, Tommy Paul.
After defeating Shang, Alcaraz was asked to assess, on a scale of 1 to 10, how he felt about his performance in the Australian Open so far.
“Well, I’m feeling great. Probably 7, 8. It’s a high note. But that’s how I feel. I don’t know. I think I’m improving every day,” the Wimbledon champion said.
“Every match that I’m playing, I’m feeling better and better. Moving, hitting the ball, and, of course, I’m getting used to this court as well. I didn’t play so much in this court. I think everything is good.
“I take good things from the court, from the level that I’m playing. Hopefully, it’s going to be better and better.”
The 2022 US Open winner also discussed his decline in form following his victory at Wimbledon last year and outlined his intention to achieve greater consistency in the latter part of 2024.
“Well, that’s a goal obviously to maintain my level during the whole season. Yeah, as you said, probably after Wimbledon I lost few games that I had not to lose, but obviously, this is tennis, everything can happen,” Alcaraz explained.
“But, yeah, I fell in that side. I don’t focus any different things. I’m just focused to do the right things, probably the good things that I did last year, and improve the things that I did wrong.
“But obviously in this part of the year, I hope to do it well. I hope to do it as same as in 2023. The second part of the year is to maintain my good level and see how it’s going to be.”
