Former seven-time Grand Slam champion Mats Wilander thinks Carlos Alcaraz could also be coping with one thing that troubled Nick Kyrgios previously because the 20-year-old Spaniard has set a sure normal within the leisure space and a few individuals not solely anticipate him to win however to additionally ship a present on the market.
Alcaraz, who will likely be turning 21 in Could, gained his first Grand Slam and reached the world No. 1 spot when he was simply 19 in 2022 earlier than profitable six out of his 10 tournaments performed in 2023. After profitable Wimbledon for his second Grand Slam title, Alcaraz stunningly misplaced himself and did not win a single title within the the rest of the 12 months.
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That streak continued in the beginning of the 2024 season earlier than Alcaraz lastly ended his eight-month title drought on the Indian Wells Masters. After Indian Wells, Alcaraz hoped to additionally make a powerful Miami Masters run bit his marketing campaign there ended with a shock and disappointing quarterfinal defeat to Grigor Dimitrov.
“Carlos Alcaraz is coping with one thing that perhaps Nick Kyrgios needed to take care of at instances, which is individuals are anticipating extra of Carlos Alcaraz than simply profitable tennis matches,” Wilander informed Eurosport.
“They’re anticipating him to hit nice pictures, to make these unbelievable saves defensively after which flip it round.
“I feel for him, it may be fairly tiring all through a complete profession to at all times really feel like not solely does he should win, however he does really feel like I’ve to carry out within the leisure half.
“I feel falling out of the highest two, it is most likely a bit little bit of a aid.”
Alcaraz’s admission after his Indian Wells win
After going 10 straight tournaments with out profitable a title, Alcaraz’s thirteenth title lastly got here in Indian Wells, the place he was the defending champion. Shortly after clinching his second Indian Wells title, Alcaraz received fairly candid about the way it felt to lastly win one as he used the phrase “troublesome” to explain months after Wimbledon and he additionally admitted that he reached a degree the place taking part in tennis was beginning to not really feel fulfilling anymore.
“Properly, yeah. It is troublesome to place it into phrases, as a result of I had actually troublesome months. As an instance the final two months it was troublesome for me to search out myself. I did not take pleasure in, as an instance, stepping on the courtroom. I wasn’t myself on the courtroom the final two months, as an instance, two months, three months, so it was troublesome for me,” Alcaraz stated after ending his title drought in Indian Wells.
“Yeah, it means loads to me, lifting this trophy, profitable this match, as a result of I overcome quite a lot of issues in my head, quite a lot of issues bodily. It was so particular for that. Not that I did not win a match since Wimbledon.
“For me, it does not matter. It is in regards to the emotions, as I stated. For me, if I win tournaments or not, I do not care. It is about having fun with taking part in tennis, as soon as I step on the courtroom, placing my recreation. It is what solely issues.
“That is why I am actually, actually blissful to elevate this trophy, as a result of I discovered myself at this match, and I felt actually, actually good.”
Alcaraz suffers a setback, pressured to overlook the Monte Carlo Masters
This week, Alcaraz was slated to launch his clay season on the Monte Carlo Masters.
Over the weekend, Alcaraz’s forearm was pictured being taped and it was reported that the Spanish tennis star ended his follow early. That immediately raised issues and anxious his followers that he may withdraw from Monte Carlo.
On Tuesday, precisely that occurred as Alcaraz introduced that regardless of his efforts, he wouldn’t be capable to play on the clay courts of Monte Carlo.
“I’ve been working in Monte Carlo and attempting to get better till the final minute from an injured pronator teres in my proper arm, but it surely was not attainable and I can not play. I used to be actually wanting ahead to taking part in. See you subsequent 12 months!” Alcaraz introduced on X on Tuesday.
To this point in his profession, Alcaraz has surprisingly performed only one match in Monte Carlo. In 2022, Alcaraz had a first-round bye in his Monte Carlo debut earlier than dropping to Sebastian Korda within the second spherical.
Final 12 months, Alcaraz pulled out of Monte Carlo on account of an harm. This 12 months, the identical occurred.
Now, Alcaraz’s focus is on recovering from his arm concern and with the ability to play at subsequent week’s Barcelona Open.
