Accustomed to playing with a smile from ear to ear, Carlos Alcaraz had been appearing on the court for months with a serious rictus, an unmistakable sign of the problems that plagued his mind and, above all, his tennis. But the Murcian freed himself in Indian Wells, champion for the second consecutive year in the unofficially considered ‘fifth Grand Slam’.
“I went through difficult months. Let’s say that in the last two months it was difficult for me to find myself. I didn’t have fun jumping onto the court. I wasn’t myself on the court in the last two months, three months, it was complicated,” acknowledged the from El Palmar after beating Medvedev in the final.
Until triumphing in the Californian desert, Alcaraz has traveled an arid path since he reached the most glorious moment of his meteoric career in July: Wimbledon champion after beating Djokovic in an epic final. The party at the All England Club, with praise from all corners of the planet, with the Spaniard elevated to a new benchmark in racket sport, gave way to doubts.
The jovial and charismatic teenager, once again number 1 in the ranking, learned about adult life and the competitive demands that come with being the rival to beat. Between his success in London and his second title in Indian Wells, Alcaraz did not win any tournaments and only reached one final, losing to Djokovic in Cincinnati.
“It means a lot to me to lift this trophy, because I overcame a lot of problems in my head. It was special because of that. It’s not because I haven’t won since Wimbledon, that doesn’t matter, it’s about the feelings. For me it’s not about winning or losing a tournament, it’s about having fun playing tennis. I found myself in this tournament,” he was sincere.
His powerful forehand and his multiple resources on the court began to be less effective against opponents who had studied his manual. “My family, my team, the people close to me asked me what had happened to me, that I wasn’t smiling like I did before. It was a complicated moment,” he recalled.
Alcaraz, who had become the King Midas of tennis, began to share the spotlight with an eternal Djokovic and with a Jannik Sinner who took the definitive step forward in 2023. The Italian won five tournaments last year (Vienna, Beijing, Montpellier and the Masters 1000 Canada, in addition to the Davis Cup) and at the beginning of 2024 he has established himself by winning his first Grand Slam: the Australian Open.
“I was playing against someone who is at an incredible level, and I am happy with the things I have done. I have changed my style and my game a little, and I think it has worked very well,” explained Alcaraz after his victory in the Indian Wells semifinals. against a Sinner as powerful in his blows as the Spaniard and just as resistant from the back of the court.
Juan Carlos Ferrero’s pupil is now more patient and aware that he cannot always win points by knockdown, based on constant fast-track winners. “I have stayed mentally strong, that is a very important part of this sport,” concluded a smiling and more mature Alcaraz to fight again in Miami, the next stop on the circuit, for the world number one held by Djokovic.
