Carlos Alcaraz demonstrated his class and wit with his response to a controversial question following his third round victory over Luciano Darderi at the US Open
Carlos Alcaraz has swept into the last eight of the 2025 US Open, though his third-round triumph over Luciano Darderi drew headlines for more than just the tennis. Following the match, held in an unusual early start time, Alcaraz gave a polished yet pointed reply to what many deemed a loaded question about his nationality.
On court, the match was business-like. Facing the Italian underdog under bright skies in Flushing Meadows, the Spaniard dispatched his opponent in straight sets. But the moment that captured attention came afterward, when questions arose about the scheduling.
The interviewer, perhaps unconsciously leaning into weary stereotypes, asked if Alcaraz found early mornings tough „as a Spaniard.“ The suggestion was plain – reviving clichés about Mediterranean culture, late evenings, and supposed struggles with early rising.
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Such a remark might have provoked irritation, and Alcaraz briefly seemed unsettled. Nevertheless, the 22-year-old handled the situation with dignity and composure.
Smiling through what seemed faint unease, he replied: „No, I’m not a morning person. I find it difficult to get up in the morning. But today, I got up early, warmed up well and played well. Yes, it seems I am a Spanish guy after all.“
That final quip cleverly inverted the assumption, sparking laughter from the spectators. It was a neat response – graceful, witty, and emblematic of why Alcaraz commands such affection.
Tennis professionals are, generally speaking, creatures of habit, their training designed to peak at specific hours. Morning fixtures can disrupt routines, particularly for a player like Alcaraz, whose high-intensity style demands sharp focus.
The five-time Grand Slam champion conceded the difficulty of an early start, noting that his main priority was to take the court „alert, full of energy and awake.“ Judging by the scoreline, he succeeded completely.
Alcaraz has yet to drop a set this fortnight. He has moved past Reilly Opelka, Mattia Bellucci, Darderi, and Arthur Rinderknech to reach the quarter-finals, where he will meet Czech talent Jin Lehecka on Tuesday.
Potentially awaiting him in the next round is old foe Novak Djokovic, who faces American Taylor Fritz in the last eight.
On the opposite side of the draw, world No. 1 Jannik Sinner is heavily tipped to make the final, with Lorenzo Musetti and the winner of Alex de Minaur vs Felix Auger-Aliassime standing in his path.
Should Alcaraz and Sinner contest Sunday’s finale, it would be their third successive Grand Slam decider. Earlier this year, Alcaraz edged Sinner in a French Open classic that went five sets, before Sinner answered back with a four-set win at Wimbledon.
Alcaraz claimed his maiden major title in New York in 2022, though his results since have faltered – a semi-final defeat in 2023 and an early exit in 2024. Now, the Spaniard has the opportunity to flip the script and capture his sixth Slam.
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