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Matteo Arnaldi achieved the best result of his career in a Grand Slam tournament at the US Open, pushing himself to the round of 16. Only Carlos Alcaraz, current world number one and reigning champion at Flushing Meadows, has put an end to his extraordinary journey of him.
There would be all the conditions to be satisfied with the experience lived in New York; yet the thoughts that invade the Italian tennis player's mind at the end of the match are not totally positive. Arnaldi would have liked to have an impact with greater impetus in the important moments of the dispute with Alcaraz and he believes he has not expressed the desired level.
Thoughts that belong to a player projected into the future with the aim of improvement and not setting limits.
Arnaldi: "The goal was to win"
In an interview with Super Tennis, Arnaldi explained: "I was looking forward to playing this match.
Since childhood you have dreamed of playing on these courts with so many people and against the number one in the world. I was fine, I wasn't so tense. The experience of the Next Gen ATP Finals helped me from this point of view.
It wasn't easy to play well. I entered with the idea of playing my game, but I could have done better in some moments of the match, especially the important ones. But it's all part of the experience. You can't always play your best and he's very good at putting you in trouble.
I'm 70% happy with what I did. Compliments from Alcaraz? We've known each other since we were little. He is a very nice boy. I'm glad to hear these words from him, but there are some things to work on. I hope it's the turning point tournament.
I'm happy with the path we're on: I've reached the second week of a Grand Slam for the first time. I hope next year there will be a lot less first times and more experiences. I bring with me so many positive things after this tournament." In the press conference he then added: "The regret is that I didn't play my best game, and I know I can do better, especially in service.
My goal was just to win. I realized that I'm not too far from the level of the best, even if I'm missing something. Alcaraz is a complete player, and a great fighter, but I don't think the difference was too noticeable during the sets.
Rather in the decisive moments: but there it was more I who made mistakes than he who did something extraordinary. I've never been able to put him in trouble to exploit his possible weaknesses."