Carlos Alcaraz ‘jealous’ Roger Federer did not watch his Wimbledon match

Ewan West 04 Jul 2023 6:49 PM

Carlos Alcaraz Wimbledon

Carlos Alcaraz admitted he was “a little bit jealous” Roger Federer did not watch his match after his opening round win at the 2023 Wimbledon Championships.

The world No 1 expressed his hope that the Swiss great would attend one of his matches and said it would be “amazing” to talk to the 20-time major champion.

The Spaniard defeated Jeremy Chardy 6-0, 6-2, 7-5 on Tuesday in the first round at Wimbledon on No. 1 Court – the final match of the 36-year-old Frenchman’s career.

Federer returned to Centre Court for the first time since retiring to watch defending champion Elena Rybakina’s 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 victory over Shelby Rogers.

The eight-time Wimbledon winner then took in former rival Andy Murray’s 6-3, 6-0, 6-1 crushing of fellow Brit Ryan Peniston.

Alcaraz revealed he found out the 41-year-old legend was at the tournament following his opening round triumph.

“After the match I was with the phone checking everything I have, all the stories, all the posts. I saw that Roger Federer was here,” said Alcaraz in his post-match press conference.

“I was a little bit jealous! Honestly, I want Roger Federer to watch one of my matches obviously. I wish to talk a little bit with him. For me [that] would be amazing. I hope to see him around more than once.”

The 20-year-old was also asked about a potential Wimbledon rematch with Novak Djokovic, who defeated him in the semi-finals of the French Open last month.

“The main reason that I had cramp in the semi-final was the tension that I had facing Novak in the semi-final of a Grand Slam. I’m sure the experience is really important part on that,” explained Alcaraz.

“I think I learned a lot from that match to the next time I’m going to face Novak. It’s going to be different for me. I’m going to deal the pressure better than I did in the semi-final of French Open.

“Yeah, all I talk with [coach] Juan Carlos [Ferrero] is that, is the pressure, is the tension. I can’t play with that tension. As I said, it’s going to be different the next time.”

Alcaraz will face either Alexandre Muller or Arthur Rinderknech in the second round at the All England Club.

The Spaniard could face seven-time Wimbledon champion Djokovic, who has not lost at the event since 2017, in the final.

World No 2 Djokovic downed Pedro Cachin in straight sets in his first round match on Monday.