Carlos Alcaraz sends bold message to rivals with Paris Masters and ATP Finals assertion

Ewan West 30 Oct 2024 12:02 PM

Carlos Alcaraz applauds the crowd after his victory

Carlos Alcaraz delivered a confident message to his rivals after making a winning start to his 2024 Paris Masters campaign.

The world No 2 shared his goal to “win every tournament” he plays for the rest of the season and assessed that he is “playing great.”

Alcaraz downed world No 37 Nicolas Jarry 7-5, 6-1 in his opening match at the Masters 1000 event in Paris on Tuesday.

The four-time Grand Slam champion is looking to win his 17th career ATP title and his first at an indoor tournament.

The Spaniard’s best result in his three previous Paris Masters appearances was his run to the quarter-finals in 2022. He was forced to retire in the second set of his last eight match with Holger Rune that year due to an injury.

In his other two campaigns, Alcaraz reached the third round in 2021, while he fell in his opening match in the second round last year.

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The 21-year-old is the favourite to triumph at the indoor hard-court tournament following the withdrawal of world No 1 Jannik Sinner.

In an interview with Tennis TV after beating Jarry, Alcaraz reflected on his victory and his record at the event.

“I think I played really good tennis [in the first set], but at the end it was complicated,” Alcaraz said.

“I’m just really happy to get through the first set, it was really important for me I guess just to come into the second with a lot more confidence.

“I think I have to have time on this court to get used to the speed of the court. And yeah, just really, really happy.

“Two years now that I didn’t win here in Paris-Bercy [before this match], so every time that I keep going in this tournament is a gift for me.”

When asked what his goal was for the end of the season, Alcaraz outlined his intention to win every remaining title.

“To win every tournament I play. I think I’m playing great. I’m really proud of myself for the whole year,” the reigning French Open and Wimbledon winner said.

“Just a few tournaments left ’til the end of the season. I really want to win here. I’ll go week by week and day by day. Hoping for a great result.”

Alcaraz will play either Ugo Humbert or Marcos Giron in the third round in Paris on Thursday.

Following the Paris Masters, Alcaraz will compete at the ATP Finals in Turin and the Davis Cup Final 8 stage in Malaga.