Throughout Spain, almost a hundred deceased are being mourned at the moment - so far - in our country after the DANA that has been battering us in the last 24 hours. No one escapes the pain, in fact, experiencing it from a distance can be even harder for not being close to your people. Something like this must be what Carlos Alcaraz is feeling, playing this week at the Paris-Bercy Masters 1000, where tomorrow he will play the round of 16 against Ugo Humbert. The player from Murcia granted an interview to the French media Cà Vous, where in addition to talking about tennis-related topics, he also took a moment to send messages of support and love to those affected in the southeast of our country.
Impact of the DANA in Spain
"I am a well-known figure in Spain, a visible voice, so I will try to help as much as possible within my capabilities. It is a rather complicated moment, not only for the affected provinces but for all of Spain. Hopefully, all of this will pass soon. I have seen images and videos, everything that is being discussed on social media, none of this is pleasant for any citizen, for any Spanish person."
Connection with the Valencian Community
"There is still a lot of uncertainty, we need to know to what extent everything has been affected, to know the number of deaths and missing persons. I feel very connected to everything, it hurts me as if I were from that city."
In Love with Paris
"For me, the first thing is that Paris is a beautiful city, a very nice place, it hosts the best tournaments in the world, that's why I always love playing here. The audience is always very affectionate... when I'm not playing against French players, obviously. I care a lot for their players, they care a lot for their people, which I admire a lot about the country. Paris will always have a special place in my heart in that sense."
Roland Garros, a Special Tournament
"It is the tournament I watched since I was little, it always excited me to participate and to be able to win it someday. The day I won, all those beautiful moments of watching it from home, of seeing Rafa win so many times, were reflected in me, I just wanted to put my name on the list of Roland Garros champions."
Nadal's Retirement
"Rafa's retirement is a loss for Spanish sports, for sports in general, and for me as well. I grew up watching Rafa, one of the main reasons why I wanted to become a professional tennis player is him, Rafa always inspired me to keep fighting, to train, and to compete. I greatly appreciate his figure, but I do not want to see myself as a replacement for Rafa, because there I am losing out on everything he has done for sports and for Spain. We will try to enjoy his last tournament, we will see in the future what happens with me."
This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Alcaraz, roto por las trágicas consecuencias de la DANA: “Me duele mucho, voy a ayudar en todo lo posible”