"He did not have a single up or down": Carlos Alcaraz praises Grigor Dimitrov but rues missed opportunity at Shanghai Masters with lessons to be learnt
ATP
Carlos
Alcaraz lamented his tough loss against Grigor Dimitrov in the round of 16 at
the Shanghai Open.
After
reaching twelve semifinals out of fourteen possible and winning six titles in
eight final appearances, Carlos Alcaraz exited in the round of 16. This marks
only the second time this season he hasn't reached at least the quarterfinals,
with the previous instance being in the second round of the Rome Open, where he
was already focusing on Roland Garros.
This time
in Shanghai, he came prepared after reaching the semifinals in Beijing and with
the intention of accumulating many points to get closer to the world No. 1
ranking, currently held by Novak Djokovic. However, he leaves with 90 points
when the goal was to secure the 1,000 points of the champion.
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Nevertheless,
he was taken by surprise by the 32-year-old Bulgarian, Grigor Dimitrov, ranked
19th in the world, who played one of his best matches of the year and staged a
comeback to defeat Alcaraz 5-7, 6-2, 6-4.
The
20-year-old Spanish star reflected on his first loss to the former world No. 3
and the mistakes that cost him the match, despite leading in the first set.
“The truth
is that I have the feeling that he played very well. His level was quite above
the previous matches we played against each other. He did not have a single up
or down. I thought that after the first set, which was hard for him, it would
turn out very differently.
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“I made
some mistakes that didn't matter at the beginning of the second set & he
didn't let me get back into the match. I tried at all times to find a way to
apply my tennis, but I wasn't able to. I was defending the whole game, without
giving myself the opportunity to play as aggressively as I would have liked,”
2-times Grand Slam champion said.
“I have to
learn to maintain concentration in moments like the start of the second set,
where I was not good at all. I always say that you can learn much more from
defeats than from victories. I take many lessons to be better. I have to work
more on some things if I want to beat the best. Before competing again, I am
going to train in several aspects that I have been able to learn a lot from in
this match,” Alcaraz concluded.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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