Alcaraz vows to learn after harrowing cramp experience against Djokovic: "I have never felt that tension that I did in that match"
ATP
Carlos Alcaraz looked all set for a titanic battle with Novak Djokovic and while he won the first set and played to the end, cramp wreaked havoc at Roland Garros.
This saw him denied a medical time out due to new rules and have to take a game penalty.
As a result, he lost out to Djokovic and his French Open dream is over as the Serbian romped into a final with Casper Ruud.
Speaking post match, he said he'd never felt anything like it but that he vows to learn from it.
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"I started to cramp in my arm. At the beginning of the third set I started to cramp every part of my body, not only the legs," said Alcaraz who went down 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1 to the Serbian.
"It was really tough for me to move in the third set, and in the fourth let's say I had a little chance, but it was really tough, my full body start to cramp."
He said that against Stefanos Tsitsipas back in 2021 he had similar but nothing on that scale.
"I have never felt something like I did today. I have never felt that tension that I did in that match," he added.
"I started the match really nervous. Really good rallies, tough rallies, drop shots, sprints, rallies. It's a combination of a lot of things. But the main thing, it was the tension that I had all the two first sets.
"Against Stefanos Tsitsipas in 2021 in the US Open, I got cramps, but not this magnitude. I learned from that match, from that experience, and I will do the same in this match."
Samuel GillEditor-in-Chief
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has a broad background in tennis media. In his current role, he works closely with editors and writers to ensure coverage meets clear journalistic standards, with particular attention to verification, consistency, and timely updates when new information becomes available.
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