Carlos Alcaraz shows his class with pointed response to controversial question at US Open
Carlos Alcaraz showed the sort of style and grace he typically displays in matches during his post-match interview last week.
Carlos Alcaraz has stormed into the quarter-finals of the 2025 US Open, but his third-round victory over Luciano Darderi sparked headlines for more than just the tennis. After the match, played in an unusual morning slot, Alcaraz delivered a classy, pointed response to what many considered to be a loaded question about his nationality.
The match itself was a straightforward affair for the young Spaniard. Facing the Italian underdog on a sun-drenched court at Flushing Meadows, Alcaraz cruised to victory in straight sets. But the real talking point emerged in the post-match interview, where the scheduling of the encounter became fodder for a probing query. His on-court interviewer, perhaps unwittingly tapping into tired cultural clichés, asked Alcaraz if he found it particularly difficult to get up early "as a Spaniard." The implication was clear: invoking stereotypes about Mediterranean lifestyles, late nights, and a supposed aversion to dawn rises.
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It's the kind of question that could rile anyone, and for a brief moment, Alcaraz appeared tense. Yet, true to form, the 22-year-old handled it with the poise of a seasoned diplomat.
Smiling through what appeared to be mild discomfort, he responded: "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."
The irony in that final quip was pointed, flipping the stereotype on its head and drawing chuckles from the crowd. It was a response that acknowledged the absurdity without escalating into confrontation – classy, clever, and a reminder of why Alcaraz is so beloved.
For context, professional tennis players are creatures of habit, their bodies finely tuned to peak performance at specific times. Morning matches can disrupt rhythms, especially for someone like Alcaraz, whose high-octane style demands peak alertness.
The five-time Grand Slam champion openly admitted the challenge of a morning match, explaining that his primary goal was to arrive on court "alert, full of energy and awake." And judging by his performance and the result – that's exactly what he did.
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So far, Alcaraz is yet to drop a set at the tournament. He's cruised past Reilly Opelka, Mattia Bellucci, Darderi and Arthur Rinderknech to reach the last eight, where he'll face Czech star Jin Lehecka on Tuesday for a place in the semis.
Waiting for him there could be old foe Novak Djokovic, who takes on home favourite Taylor Fritz in the quarters. World No. 1 Jannik Sinner, meanwhile, is favourite to reach the final on the other side of the draw, with Lorenzo Musetti, and the winner of Alex de Minaur vs Felix Auger-Aliassime standing between the Italian and a fifth successive Grand Slam final.
If, as expected, Alcaraz and Sinner meet in Sunday's showpiece, it'll be the third straight major final between the pair. Alcaraz beat Sinner in a five-set thriller at the French Open earlier this year, while Sinner returned the favour with a four-set victory at Wimbledon.
Alcaraz captured his first major title at the US Open in 2022, but his recent record in New York has been less than ideal – a semi-final defeat in 2023 followed by a second-round exit last year. Now, the Spaniard has the chance to flip the script and claim major title No. 6.