Carlos Alcaraz: Rested, recovered and ready for grass season at Queen's Club

WATCH: Novak Djokovic defeats Carlos Alcaraz in the 2023 Roland Garros semifinals

Carlos Alcaraz says he is rested and ready for the grass-court season—and eager to put a “worrying” Roland Garros exit behind him—as he arrives in London as the top seed at the Cinch Championships at Queen’s Club.

The current world No. 2 was one of the heavy favorites in Paris, as he charged into the clay-court Grand Slam’s semifinal stage at the expense of just one set. Alcaraz had navigated past challenges like No. 5 seed Stefanos Tsitsipas and No. 17 Lorenzo Musetti with aplomb—but up against Novak Djokovic in a blockbuster, his plan to lift a second major trophy was derailed.

Alcaraz had played through two high-intensity sets, keeping toe to toe with Djokovic and racking up highlight-reel worthy hot shots in the process. But his level suddenly dropped in the third set as muscle cramps took over, starting in his hands and legs before eventually becoming full-body cramping.

Speaking to L’Equipe from his training base in Spain before heading to London, Alcaraz assured fans that he has completely recovered after the ordeal.

“It was nothing serious,” Alcaraz explained. “People were worried to see me in that state, but it was simply the result of the tension I had to deal with during that match, the nervousness of playing Djokovic in the semi-finals.

“They were cramps due to the fact that playing against Djokovic requires you to give it your all. But I recovered and rested as I should have.”

Despite receiving medical attention in the third set, the Spaniard was not able to recover, and bowed out 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1 to the eventual champion.

But the experience has only served to reaffirm to the 20-year-old that he’s on the right track—at least physically. Last year, Alcaraz ascended to world No. 1 for the first time and claimed his first Grand Slam trophy at the US Open. Now, he wants to make winning a habit.

“Physically, I'm at a great level. I consider myself to be a player with good physical qualities,” Alcaraz told L’Equipe. “The problem was mental. I didn't prepare myself properly for the match and what was in store for me. I put too much stress and too much pressure on myself.

“After the first two sets, which were super demanding, if you add the extra tension I put on myself, what happened was what happened.”

Once again one of the oddsmakers’ favorites at Wimbledon, Alcaraz will be aiming for a more serene trip to London as he starts the grass-court season at the Queen’s Club.

The No. 1 seed will start his campaign against a qualifier in the first round, with the winner of Jiri Lehecka and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina awaiting next. An unseeded Matteo Berrettini—the two-time Queen’s Club defending champion—looms as a possible third-round opponent.