Spanish tennis sensation Carlos Alcaraz flew off to the picturesque islands of Ibiza for a well-earned break after clinching his second Roland Garros title in a rollicking final against World No. 1 Jannik Sinner.
Interacting with the media ahead of the Queen’s Club championships in London, the 22-year-old revealed why that break was crucial for him heading into the grass season.
Carlos Alcaraz Explains Why He Needed a Break After Roland Garros
Alcaraz trumped Sinner in a fifth-set tiebreak in what was the longest French Open final in history and the second-longest major final.
After the monumental win over his closest rival, the Spaniard flew to Ibiza, where he partied with his friends. Alcaraz told the media that he had fun there, which was more than enough.
Speaking of his Ibiza experience, Alcaraz said, “It is time to turn off your mind a little bit and refresh physically, mentally and coming back to the grass season as good as you can.
So, for me, having that time after such a good clay season this year, and such an intense Roland-Garros, it was great to have my days (in Ibiza).”
During his stay, Alcaraz said he “disconnected” from everything and simply tried to have fun. “That for me is really important,” he said. “And coming back with more energy.”
Following the Ibiza getaway, Alcaraz practised at Queen’s Club on Saturday. The World No. 2 will kickstart his campaign against compatriot Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. Alcaraz is a former champion at the venue, having won the 2023 championships with a win over Australian top-10 player Alex de Minaur.
How Jannik Sinner Reacted to His Heartbreaking Loss to Carlos Alcaraz
Sinner, ranked World No.1, is also set to kickstart his campaign on the grass, at the ATP 500 tournament in Halle, Germany. Sinner is the defending champion there, having defeated Hubert Hurkacz in last year’s final in two tense tiebreaks.
The Italian reacted emotionally after losing to Alcaraz in their titanic five-set decider at Roland Garros. He recently revealed that he had lost sleep over the heartbreaking loss to his fiercest rival.
Interacting with the press ahead of the Halle Open, he said, “I think that for me to play another tournament is positive, because every match is a new beginning, and I must be mentally ready to give my all on the court. Therefore, it is great that I can be here in Halle. But yes, I’ve already had a few sleepless nights, but I think every day it gets better.”
Despite admitting that his family and friends are more important, Sinner confessed that the match still haunts him. He added:
“Tennis is important in my life, but nevertheless, family and friends are more important. Nonetheless, I often think about the match.”
The World No. 1 will begin his campaign at Halle against Yannick Hanfmann of Germany.
