Carlos Alcaraz, the world No 2 in tennis, has experienced a remarkable rise to prominence, but he recently highlighted an area of his game that requires improvement: mental toughness. After a disappointing loss to Jannik Sinner in the semi-final of the China Open, Alcaraz admitted to struggling with his mental game during the match.
Alcaraz and Sinner engaged in a fiercely competitive first set, with Sinner ultimately clinching it in a tie-breaker. However, in the second set, Alcaraz’s performance noticeably declined, and he lost 7-6 (7-4), 6-1. During the post-match press conference, he candidly confessed, “In the second set, I was mentally out. I was complaining too much, something that really makes it difficult for you to play at your best level, that’s what it means to be angry with yourself. This is what happened.”
As he prepared for his match against Gregoire Barrere at the Shanghai Masters, Alcaraz acknowledged the importance of mental preparation in tennis. He emphasized that mental strength is the most critical aspect of being a top player and expressed his commitment to improving this facet of his game.
Alcaraz stated, “I want to be the best, so I have to practice mentally to be strong enough to play at the same level and don’t have up-and-downs.” He acknowledged that controlling one’s emotions on the court can be challenging, but he is determined to work on it. Tennis enthusiasts eagerly await his future matches, anticipating a more mentally resilient Alcaraz on the court.
Alcaraz in Shanghai, ranking, and results in 2023
LWLWWWWWWW Ranked world no.2, Alcaraz has a 62-8 win-loss record in 2023. The Spaniard is currently having a run in Shanghai where he ousted the world no.73 Gregoire Barrere 6-2 7-5.
The Spaniard has won 6 titles in 2023 in Buenos Aires, Indian Wells, Barcelona, Madrid, London and Wimbledon. Alcaraz reached the final in Rio de Janeiro (Rio Open) and in Cincinnati (Western & Southern Open).
The Spaniard won 13 titles in his career: 3 on hard courts, 7 on clay courts, 1 on indoor courts and 2 on grass courts. (See the list of his titles)
Carlos Alcaraz |
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