Alcaraz finding it ‘tough to believe’ he’s Wimbledon champion

NICE, France: Carlos Alcaraz said Friday he finds it “tough to believe” he is Wimbledon champion as the Spaniard prepares to play the Hopman Cup mixed team tournament in France days after his triumph in London. “Thinking I won Wimbledon is tough to believe. I can’t believe that I won and beat Novak (Djokovic), probably it will take some days to believe,” Alcaraz told journalists.

On Sunday, Alcaraz beat Djokovic in five sets to win the second Grand Slam title of his career. “Since Wimbledon I didn’t touch the racquet, today will be the first time,” said Alcaraz, who takes on 111th-ranked Belgian David Goffin later on Friday. “I’m a little bit tired, I’m not going to lie,” he said.

“I had some days off to rest a little bit. I’m feeling great right now. I’m here to make people happy watching the match.” The world number one battled past seven-time Wimbledon champion Djokovic after a defeat to the Serb in the French Open semifinals during which he suffered cramp.

But the 20-year-old believes that he was “not well prepared mentally” before the Paris claycourt tournament. “I couldn’t deal with the pressure that Novak put on. I relaxed, doing some mental exercise before the match that probably I didn’t do in Roland Garros, that helped me a lot.” In Nice, Alcaraz teams up with 72nd-ranked Rebeka Masarova, against the Belgium pairing of Goffin and Elize Mertens.

“We’re not used to playing with women, mixed doubles. I wanted to have this experience,” he continued. “It feels great.