Carlos Alcaraz, the young Spanish tennis sensation, has been making waves in the tennis world with his recent decision to use a slightly heavier racket. This change, which added just five grams to the neck of his racket, has already shown significant impact on his game.
The Decision to Change
Alcaraz made the switch during the off-season, aiming to enhance his performance by generating more power and stability in his shots. He explained that the extra weight helps him hit through the ball more effectively, generating deep, heavy shots without requiring excessive racket head speed.
Impact on Performance
The change has been noticeable in his recent matches. Alcaraz has experienced fluctuations in his performance, alternating between good matches and those with too many unforced errors. However, he believes that the heavier racket will ultimately help him maintain better control and consistency. He mentioned that he feels he is generating more power now, but must keep the right control of the ball to avoid making too many mistakes.
Early Results
At the Australian Open, Alcaraz reached the quarterfinals. Despite the loss, his performance showcased the potential benefits of the racket change. The added weight has made his shots heavier and more stable, which is particularly useful for his serve and return.
This is what he said:
“As you know, I slightly changed the weight of my racket during the off-season. I played the Australian Open with a racket five grams heavier than the old one and the sensations are very different.
I feel like I’m generating more power now, but I have to keep the right control of the ball so I don’t make too many mistakes. These five grams really make a difference.”
Alcaraz in Rotterdam, ranking, and results in 2025
WLWWWWWWWW Ranked no.3, Alcaraz has managed to achieve a compiled 7-1 win-loss record in 2025. The Spaniard is competing in Rotterdam where he ousted the world no.84 Botic Van De Zandschulp 7-6(3) 3-6 6-1, the world no.317 Andrea Vavassori 6-2 6-1 and the world no.44 Pedro Martinez Portero 6-2 6-1.
Carlos Alcaraz will face the world no.21 Hubert Hurkacz in the semifinal on Saturday at 19:30 pm on CENTRE COURT. Their current record is 3-0 for Alcaraz.
Alcaraz won 17 titles in his career: 5 on hard courts, 8 on clay courts, 1 on indoor courts and 3 on grass courts. (See the list of his titles)
He is also scheduled to play in Doha (Qatar ExxonMobil Open) on the 17th of February and Indian Wells (BNP Paribas Open) on the 3rd of March.
