Carlos Alcaraz is back at the IEB+ Argentina Open in Buenos Aires to defend the trophy he won 12 months ago on the South American swing.
The No. 2 player in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings spoke to the press on Monday at the Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club about his second event of the season, which he enters as a title favourite.
“Last year I came here because I hadn’t played many matches, I was unable to play Australia. This year I’m here for a good reason,” began the 20-year-old Spaniard. “I loved it last year. I won, but I’d been wanting to come to Buenos Aires and the tournament for some time.
“Juan Carlos [Ferrero] won here, many Spaniards have come here, and I’d been told it was an amazing tournament and I was able to experience it last year,” he continued. “The people are wonderful. The vibes you get here are very special, the energy is special, and I wanted to come back.”
On the Argentine clay last year, Alcaraz started a red-hot run during which he collected six titles in as many months from February to July. Trophies from Buenos Aires, Indian Wells, Barcelona, Madrid, Queen’s Club and Wimbledon all ended up in his trophy cabinet in 2023.
“A lot of things have happened since I played in Buenos Aires,” he said of the past 12 months. “My level is good. I’m playing with a lot of confidence, at a good standard. I played good tennis in Australia. The practice days on clay have been very good, I’m feeling physically very well, my level of tennis is very high, and we’ll see how we go in Buenos Aires.”
Alcaraz is looking to maintain his high standards this year. So far, he has a 4-1 record in 2023 after reaching the quarter-finals at the Australian Open, the only tournament he has played so far this season.
“I’m a very competitive guy, very ambitious, who always wants to win everything,” explained the Spaniard. “That’s what drives me to keep training at my top level, to keep going to tournaments with a lot of passion and desire to win more titles.
“Obviously seeing Djokovic at the top, the players who are winning titles, also motivates me to try and be at their level. Or talking about the Big 3, trying to get closer to them… At the end of the day, I’m a guy with big dreams, I’m very ambitious and I always set my sights on the best in the world and in history.”
The top seed in Buenos Aires has had time to practise since arriving in Argentina and he spoke positively about his experience this year at the ATP 250 event.
“Compared to last year, there’s been a big change,” he observed. “Last year, maybe I didn’t think it could be an [ATP] 500, but this year it could. The facilities have improved so much, the courts are very good, the organisers are good, attentive, accommodating, everything is always available to you.
“It’s great. The people are really involved, they’re very into their tennis. I think we can be grateful for that. I think if this tournament becomes a 500, I wouldn’t be at all surprised.”
Alcaraz, who has a bye in the first round, will play his opener against the winner of the clash between Argentinian qualifier Camilo Ugo Carabelli and Peru’s Juan Pablo Varillas.
