World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz discussed his expectations ahead of his Wimbledon quarterfinal match against Cameron Norrie.
“Facing Cameron is always tough; we`ve had difficult matches before,” Alcaraz stated. “Battling him is almost like a nightmare; it`s challenging right from the start. I`m not surprised he`s in the quarterfinals; I saw him playing well. After losing at Queen`s Club, he trained morning, noon, and night, so his form isn`t a surprise to me. He`s playing at home now, and the whole crowd is cheering for him. I need to be mentally strong and focused to win.”
When asked about preparing for a left-handed opponent and whether training with a left-handed player is necessary, Alcaraz replied:
“It`s not strictly necessary for me to train with a lefty. Although it`s helpful, I`ll try to find such a sparring partner if there`s an opportunity. Playing against a left-handed player is always difficult, especially returning the slice serve. I think that`s not easy for anyone. We`ll see how it goes with Cameron. I want to focus on myself, on finding the right tactics. But I will try to practice with a lefty,” Alcaraz concluded at the press conference.
Marcus Prine