Carlos Alcaraz admits defeat to Nicolas Jarry in Argentina Open ‘hurt me a lot’, says there are ‘many things to improve’
The Spaniard, who fell 7-6(2) 6-3 to the Chilean in Buenos Aires, has now played nine tournaments without collecting a trophy, with his last title coming at Wimbledon last year, when he defeated Novak Djokovic in a remarkable five-set comeback.
Speaking in his post-match press conference after his defeat by Jarry, the 20-year-old said: “It’s a difficult defeat, it hurt me a lot.
“There are many things to improve, and my level has to go up. I played good tennis but very far from my real level.
“I felt good physically and it’s important, and I think that with work I will get better… but having opportunities is difficult.”
Alcaraz is one that always continues to amaze with his level of maturity and self-awareness despite his young age, and the top seed in the Argentinian capital believes that there are positives to be found from his defeat.
“The positive thing is that I see that I have a lot of things to improve,” Alcaraz explained.
“Learning that I have to read the matches better, to give my best version in the moments of tension. Today I lacked that in the 0-30, in the break-points, to be able to play differently there.”
Alcaraz was also keen to emphasise his opponent’s quality, with Jarry, renowned for his big serve followed by a thunderous forehand, crashed down seven aces to Alcaraz’s none.
The Spaniard, whose supreme talent and early success has built much expectation of him at such a young age, now heads into every event he plays as one of, if not the, firm favourite.
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“It is true that expectations are generated in me in the tournaments where I go… maybe people think that I have to win every match, but Jarry has a level that can beat anyone,” Alcaraz said.
“It’s a shame to see that I haven’t improved some things in my concentration since 2023. There’s no other way, it’s something pending, and my level of play is based on the level of attitude and energy I’m in.
“The year is still very long, many things can still happen, and we will see how it goes on.”
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