Almost 12 months ago Alcaraz lost the Olympic final in Paris to 24-time major winner Novak Djokovic.
It was a defeat he struggled to move on from.
“Last year in the Olympics I was really bad emotionally after the match. It was really, really hard for me to accept that moment,” he said.
But Alcaraz has learned from that defeat, the most significant in his career up to that point, and says it is a “different feeling” this time around.
“I think in the last year I’ve been through enough different situations that I learned from them,” he said.
“I just accept everything that is coming to me in the way it comes. Like, OK, I just lost a final in a Grand Slam, but I’m just really proud about being in a final.”
That positive attitude and charisma has shone through at this tournament, with Alcaraz revelling in his status as a fan-favourite at the All England Club.
Opting to practise on the intimate outside courts rather than the official practice courts at Aorangi before his matches, huge crowds have gathered to catch a glimpse of him and he has also dined at local restaurants and mixed with fans.
On court he often plays with a smile on his face, even when behind in matches.
“I want to keep the good moments and try to forget the bad moments,” he said.
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