Roland Garros 2024: The ranking doesn’t matter, you’ve to be focused for every match – Carlos Alcaraz after second-round win

Number three seed Carlos Alcaraz passed a stern test against Dutch qualifier  Jesper de Jong on Wednesday at Roland Garros. The Spaniard registered a  6-3, 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 win to advance to the third round.

After winning the first two sets comprehensively, Alcaraz could not bring his best in the third set and had to pay the price. Furthermore, his serve was broken in the fourth set but he bounced back in style.

The youngster said the ranking doesn’t matter and one to be focused on every match, every game, and every point. Alcaraz also predicted that Jesper de Jong would soon break into the top 100.

“As I have said many times, any player can put you in trouble,” Alcaraz said. “You have to be very focused every match and every point and every round. It does not matter if I am at the top of the rankings and playing someone outside the Top 100. You have to think you have to play at your best if you want to get through. The ranking doesn’t matter, it matters the level to keep going and I am sure he will break the Top 100.”

Alcaraz had recently suffered an arm injury and he is playing on the tour for the first time after the Madrid Open.

The two-time Grand Slam champion smashed 35 winners but committed 47 unforced errors. He admitted that he dropped his level but was happy to advance in the tournament.

“The third set I needed to forget about putting on a show and put myself in the chance of putting myself in the rallies,” Alcaraz said. “It was difficult for me to do it. I was in trouble a little bit but I am very happy to do it at the end.”

Alcaraz will play his third-round match against either Sebastian Korda or Soonwoo Kwon on Friday.