Football fever! Alcaraz hoping for Spanish success at the Euros

Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz earned victory against Frenchman Ugo Humbert on Sunday at Wimbledon. In two days, Spain will face France in the semi-finals at the European Championships in Germany.

Alcaraz watched Spain’s quarter-final victory against Germany in the locker room following his win against Frances Tiafoe on Friday and the 21-year-old is excited to give his country his full backing from west London once again.

“I have a really good relationship with a few players in the team. In particular, Alvaro Morata. He's a really good friend,” said Alcaraz, who is scheduled to face Tommy Paul on Tuesday at SW19. “I support them. [The Euros] is every four years, so right now it's time to support them, as I know they support me when I'm playing matches or I'm playing tournaments. It's my turn.

“Hopefully on Tuesday we are not going to play at the same time. But let's see. Hopefully I will be able to see a little bit from the match.”

On court against Humbert, Alcaraz produced moments of magic and he will be hoping Spain produces similarly against France. On set point in the second set, the third seed lost his footing mid-way through the point, but somehow regained control to scamper around the court and clinch the set.

Smiling, Alcaraz recalled playing a similar point against Jannik Sinner en route to the title at the US Open in 2022.

“The last time I remember that I fell down and recovered and won the point at the end was against Sinner at the US Open. I remember that I fell down, recovered and made a passing shot. That is the last time I remember that I got a point like this one,” Alcaraz said.

“As I said on the court, that's myself fighting for every ball. I think that I can reach every ball. It doesn't matter the shot, the opponent hit or the place that I'm on the court. I just think that I'm going to get it, I'm going to hit another good shot or a passing shot, believing that I'm going to get the point.”

Alcaraz, who holds a 15-2 record at Wimbledon and is chasing his fourth major title, has played his past two matches at The Championships under the Centre Court roof due to rain in west London.

Alcaraz is pleased with how he has coped with the change of conditions.

“I’m not used to playing indoors, I'm not going to lie. But I don't consider myself a bad player indoors. I just think that are a lot of players better than me,” Alcaraz said. “I would prefer to play outdoors. But if the weather is OK and the suns out. Not if it is windy. But if we have to play outdoors or indoors, I have to adapt my game with the conditions that it is.”