Alcaraz upbeat on Madrid despite Barcelona defeat

Carlos Alcaraz’s loss to Holger Rune in the Barcelona Open final wasn’t the only thing that had the home crowd concerned. More troubling, looking to the medium and long term, was the discomfort that forced the Spaniard to call for medical and physio attention during the second and final set.

And speaking in the press room at the Real Club de Tenis Barcelona, Alcaraz confirmed he’ll have tests done on his right leg adductor, though he remains hopeful he’ll be ready for the Mutua Madrid Open. He also praised Rune and expressed deep admiration for Rafa Nadal, calling the Spaniard’s back-to-back wins on clay “just insane.”

How are you feeling after the final?

Losing is never easy, especially not in a final, and especially not here in Barcelona. But given how the match went, I’ve got to give Holger credit—he played a great match. He was really solid, knew exactly what he wanted to do the whole time. I missed a few chances and it cost me. I leave with my head held high, even if the loss stings a bit.

What kind of injury are you dealing with?

The second set got intense right away—long, physical rallies. On a couple of runs I felt a twinge in my right adductor and that’s when the alarms went off. It’s hard to stay focused on the match when you’re thinking about your body. It was tough to keep that same level. Right now I’ve got a couple days off anyway, and we’ll talk to the medical team and do some scans. I’m optimistic—it shouldn’t keep me out of Madrid.

Were you worried something like this could happen?

Honestly, I didn’t expect to feel any physical issues, but I knew it was going to be demanding. I’ve played a lot of tough matches lately with very little rest. I just had faith I could hold up and keep playing good tennis—and I think I did. When you play Monte Carlo and have to adjust right away to Barcelona, it’s not easy. I gotta say, I totally tip my hat to Rafa. What he’s done, week in and week out, is unbelievably hard.

Has Nadal given you any advice about handling this kind of schedule?

No advice, but he did send me a message wishing me well, hoping it’s nothing serious and that I’m at 100% for Madrid. Once you live this from the inside, you realize just how tough it is—physically and mentally—to stay at your best every single week. Winning constantly? That’s nearly impossible.

Even though you know him well, did Rune surprise you in the final?

I’ve seen Holger win big matches against top players, so I know what level he’s capable of. What did surprise me, though, was how disciplined he was. From start to finish, he was super steady—no real dips. He had a plan, stuck to it, and made it work. He deserves a lot of credit.

What do you think was missing from your game?

A bit of patience, probably. The match started fast, with some huge shots from both of us. But once I broke him, he switched tactics—got more balls in, made me run more. I needed to adjust my game plan and didn’t do it. I rushed a few plays, and he took full advantage. That’s why he won.

Is it crazy to try to play Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Madrid, Rome and then show up ready for Roland Garros?

Yeah—it’s intense. The clay season’s short, but it’s packed. Week after week with almost no rest if you play everything. That’s the challenge for players and their teams: constantly communicating, checking in with how you feel, and understanding what your body needs. For me, it’s been two super demanding weeks, lots of matches, two finals. The hard part is that we go day by day—we never know how we’ll feel two weeks from now. You’ve gotta listen to your body every single day because one bad decision can mess up your whole season. Trying to play the whole clay swing while going deep in tournaments? Yeah, it’s madness.

How do you handle being the favorite, like you were here in Barcelona?

Sometimes it’s tough because you feel that pressure to win—whether it’s from the crowd or the expectations people put on you. But I don’t really care about that anymore. I’ve got my own goals, and it’s not about winning or losing, it’s about walking off the court feeling good about my performance. Today, even with the physical issues, playing here in front of my people, I value that and I enjoyed it. I left the court with my head up and a smile on my face. At this point, whether I’m the favorite or not—it doesn’t matter to me.

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