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The 19-year-old, who also won at Buenos Aires
and Indian Wells this season and is keen to put another marker
down on clay ahead of the French Open next month, says he
thrives on the atmosphere of the home crowds in the Spanish
capital.
"I don't take it as pressure, actually the complete opposite.
For me it's motivation," Alcaraz said on Tuesday.
"It's a pleasure to see so many people, I like playing in front
of such big crowds, and even more so in Spain. It's a really big
motivation."
Alcaraz will aim to become only the second player after Rafa
Nadal to successfully defend the title in Madrid, but failure to
do so will not bring him down.
"Every tournament we go to, we think we can win it and we're
going to try and win it. But if we don't, it's not a failure for
me," Alcaraz said.
"Leaving a tournament thinking I have failed would have more to
do with the level of my tennis or my attitude, that's the most
important thing for me. If I do well mentally and I play well, I
don't take it as a failure."
Alcaraz, who has a 23-2 record this year, will face Emil
Ruusuvuori or Ugo Humbert in his opening match.
(Reporting by Manasi Pathak in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter
Rutherford)
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