"If people want to beat me, they're going to have to suffer": Alcaraz sends statement out to rest of the field after Arnaldi win

Spain’s young tennis star Carlos Alcaraz believes that if players want to beat him, they must be ready to suffer.

The 20-year-old is now the talk of the town after registering his maiden Wimbledon triumph in July earlier this year after beating Serbia’s legendary tennis star Novak Djokovic in a five-set thrilling final with a score of 1–6, 7–6(8–6), 6–1, 3–6, 6–4.

Alcaraz, while talking to the Eurosport, stated that he is now much calmer while entering the mega-events.

“Yes, the truth is yes [I am calmer],” he said. “I’ve already experienced important situations in Grand Slams. Even though I’m only 20 years old I feel a little bit experienced in these types of situations, which means there are many moments which I take with much more calmness than maybe before.

“And I can play calmer knowing that if people want to beat me, they’re going to have to suffer, run a lot, and play a very, very high level for a long time. Physically I feel good, mentally quite good and tennis-wise I think I am playing at a high level, so in these situations I feel calmer.

“What we’re trying to do in each match, I think I’ve done that incredibly well. Playing aggressively, trying to go up to the net a lot of times, keeping the rest of my game tight – basically my game style. I think I haven’t doubted it at any moment, I’ve been faithful to my style in every moment of matches.”

The world number one is currently taking part in the US Open where he has already booked his place in the quarterfinal after defeating Italy’s Matteo Arnaldi in the round of 16 tie in straight sets with a score of 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 on Monday.

He will face Germany’s Alexander Zverev in the last-eight fixture of the fourth and final Grand Slam of the year on Wednesday.