"They motivated me to play a good game after an injury": Alcaraz takes motivation from Nadal and Djokovic handling of injuries

Carlos Alcaraz battled past Felix Auger-Aliassime to book the Indian Wells semi-final and he revealed that he took inspiration from Djokoic and Nadal.

Alcaraz came into Indian Wells after pulling out of the Acapulco Open due to an injury and the Spaniard took inspiration from Djokovic and Nadal in the way they come back from injuries. Both of them are able to play pretty strong tennis fairly early and Alcaraz was able to do that as well making it to the semi-final in Indian Wells.

Speaking after, he said:

"I look to the big players, Djokovic or Rafa, when they are coming from an injury and probably they have a great percentage to win the tournament after an injury. I looked at them a little bit when I was injured, you know, training. They motivated me to play a good game after an injury in the first tournaments. I was surprised when I won Buenos Aires, but right now, I'm not surprised at it."

He'll take on Sinner for a place in the final, just like at the US Open a year earlier. Alcaraz won that match but it was a close one, maybe the best match in the whole event. He's looking forward to another win:

"I enjoyed that match [the US Open quarter-final], because I had to be really, really focused in every shot. I had to play my best. That's why Jannik is such a great player. Not only with great serve, great movements, it is because he pushes the opponent to the limit. Tries to play aggressive with great shots. For the opponent it is really tough to be focused mentally and physically during the whole match. That's what I love playing against him, that it pushes me to the limit."