Carlos Alcaraz reveals Rocky Balboa is the secret to his determination!

• Tennis News
• Carlos Alcaraz

At the end of the challenge won against Tommy Paul in the second round of the Western & Southern Open tournament, Carlos Alcaraz revealed a curious detail related to his training. The number 1 in the ATP ranking revekati often watch the training footage of Silvester Stallone in the movie Rocky IV.

At the ATP Masters 1000 in Cincinnati, Carlitos won a very long match that lasted over three hours and was interrupted four times due to rain. The Spanish star explained how that frame regarding the film of the Italo-American boxer's saga is fundamental for his motivation: "For me it represents a key weapon to charge me.

The video in which Rocky trains before the fight with Ivan Drago is fundamental . I know all the songs from that movie. Every time, before a game, I listen to at least three songs from that movie, like Eye of the Tiger. We sang it the other day with all my staff."

The quiarterfinal match against Max Purcell

Alcaraz also suffered more than expected against Purcell, who surrendered with a score of 6-4, 3-6, 4-6.

The comeback allowed the young Spaniard to push himself to the semifinals for the seventh time in his career in a 1000m event. The tactical scheme followed by the Australian left no room for any kind of interpretation and probably surprised Alcaraz at the start of the match.

Purcell tried to shorten rallies and earn the net as quickly as possible. After wasting the opportunity to take the lead, the Spaniard pulled the plug in the seventh game and gave away the break by missing a volley and hitting the forehand.

In the second set, Alcaraz immediately put distance between himself and Purcell, finding a decent backhand passer, and traveled quickly on serve until the half. The match, against all odds, didn't go downhill for Alcaraz in the third set.

The phenomenon from Murcia lost the break and restored confidence in Purcell. At 4-4, however, the Australian did not keep his service due to two complex serve & volley. Alcaraz gave him one last chance when he served for the match, but Purcell miscalibrated his forehand.Hubert Hurkacz will challenge the Spaniard in the semifinals.