Carlos Alcaraz speaks with CNN after US Open win as he celebrates his 6th Grand Slam title.
LONDON (CNN) — After the U.S. Open, Carlos Alcaraz is back in the news as an “international tennis star.”
The Spaniard, who turned 33 on Tuesday, won his 6th Grand Slam title and his seventh Masters title following one of the most dramatic finals of the week. He finished off Fernando Gonzalez 6-7 (4-7), 7-5, 7-5, 4-6, 6-3, marking the end of a stunning four-and-a-half year run that started with his win at the Australian Open in January 2009 and continued with the US Open last month.
“I’m very satisfied, very satisfied,” he said.
He added: “I have to thank the people that helped me and I don’t forget them. For sure, they gave us a lot of good moments, and they have done a lot of good things. They have taught me a lot of things and I thank them for everything they have done for me.”
Alcaraz, who has played nearly 900 matches and won $10.9 million in prize money, said he’s always tried to follow a process he calls “the best version of myself.”
“You have to be completely honest with your self,” he explained.
“And I think people should know that and see it. When you have confidence like that, you have to show it. You have to show you can play well — but you also have to show you have the heart to deal with the ups and downs. You show that to the public and to the critics. You show that by being brave in your own game. And then all of them respect you because they are your fans and want to be with you because you show respect for them. That’s the kind of person I am, always trying to do better.”
He added: “I hope to keep playing for a long time. I would like to get past [Monsanto] and to
