Dimitrov ‘made me feel like I’m 13 years old’ – Carlos Alcaraz after loss at Miami Open

 

Carlos Alcaraz admitted he was outplayed by Grigor Dimitrov in the quarterfinals of the Miami Open on Thursday. The Bulgarian registered a convincing win of 6-2, 6-4 against the Spaniard, claiming his second consecutive win against Alcaraz.

Alcaraz admitted Dimitrov made him feel like he was 13 years old as he had no answers to his onslaught. Dimitrov broke Alcaraz’s serve in the second game of the opening set and from there on, it was just one-way traffic.

Alcaraz said that his opponent was far more superior and he had no solutions on the court.

“He played amazing tennis, almost perfect, if I can say ‘perfect’, said Alcaraz, who won the Miami title in 2022. “I mean, I couldn’t find solutions. I couldn’t find a way to make him feel uncomfortable on the court. It was a great game from his side.

“I have a lot of frustrations right now, because he made me feel like I’m 13 years old (smiling). You know, it was crazy. I was talking to my team saying that I don’t know what I have to do. I don’t know his weakness. I don’t know anything.”

Meanwhile, Dimitrov defeated Alcaraz by 5-7, 6-2, 6-4 in Shanghai last year but the latter feels he played better on Thursday despite losing in straight sets.

“I think I played good tennis. I mean, I left the court thinking that probably I had to change my game a little bit earlier, but anyway, I feel like I played a good tennis,” Alcaraz said. “Not perfect but a good one…

“Honestly, in Shanghai, I didn’t play too well, I think I played better today than the second and third set in Shanghai.”

Alcaraz will now shift his focus for the upcoming clay season and wants to keep going hard.

“I have to wait a few days to see everything, but there is no time to get down right now,” Alcaraz said. “The season, there are a lot of tournaments. The season has just begun.

“I have to practise. I’m 100 per cent fine the power, let’s say, to continue practising well, enjoying practising and really looking forward to playing the next tournament.”

Alcaraz is next scheduled to play at the year’s third ATP Masters 1000, the Rolex Shanghai Masters, starting 8 April.