By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Saturday April 1, 2023
After a breathtaking battle in Miami, won by Jannik Sinner, 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-2, Alcaraz had a message for his rival at the net, regarding Sunday's Miami final against Daniil Medvedev.
“Go for it man, I’ll cheer for you.”
It’s nice to see such tremendous respect and camaraderie between the two rising forces, and full credit to Alcaraz, who demonstrated sportsmanship and warmth after a difficult defeat.
The Spaniard, who will lose the No.1 ranking when new rankings are released on Monday April 3rd, didn’t have such an easy time dealing with the loss in its immediate aftermath, however.
“After the match, [for about] 15, 25 minutes I can't talk to anyone,” he told reporters. “I was on my -- complaining a lot, everything is like shit for me,” he said.
But after cooling down he was ready to face reporters for a smile, and eager to downplay the notion that his cramping in the third set was the reason he lost to Sinner for the third time in six career meetings.
“I started cramping at the beginning of the third set, but it wasn't the reason I lost the match,” he stressed. “I went back after cramping at the beginning, I started to feel better. But of course Jannik, he was better than me in the third set. That's the truth, you know.”
Rather than fret over a missed opportunity – to win the Sunshine Double and retain the No.1 ranking – Alcaraz is already focusing on what he needs to do better to regain the upper hand on his top rival.
“I don't think about I lost the No. 1, I lost the Sunshine Double. I don't think about it,” he said.
“Of course it's a shame, but I had opportunity to get the Sunshine Double, but I think I gonna have more years to try to get it. But all I can think about is to improve my level to beat Jannik.”