The last time Carlos Alcaraz He was on a tennis court dragged disappointment, confusion, even discouragement: he lost to David Gofffin in his debut in Miami Masters 1000 and did not understand why, again. In the previous months, also against unexpected rivals –Jack Draper, Jiri Lehecka, Ugo Humbert, Tomas Machac, Botic van de Zandschulp o Gael Monfils-, I had already suffered similar defeats and emotions. The joy of the last idyllic summer today is just a memory. Now the Spanish, at 21 and with its four Grand Slam trophies, is at the crossroads that will decide his career: will it always be like that or is it something passenger?
From the Olympic Games in Paris, Alcaraz has added only two minor trophies, the ATP 500 of Beijing and Rotterdam, and 11 stumbling to compose a kind of crisis. A bad streak, at least. It is not serious, nothing serious, but generates doubts. This Sunday begins the 1000 masters of Montecarlo and the consequent tour of whipped earth and it is impossible to know which of its versions can be seen. Perhaps it is the dominator that was in the last Roland Garros and Wimbledon or may intermingle wonders with disappointments again. No one knows. Nor the elderly in the tennis coincide on what will happen.
“When I get it, it will be more regular”
“I do not think it is in a moment of crisis. It is clear that you are not playing your best tennis, but at your age it seems logical to me, typical of learning. For me, your problem is the selection of blows. Beyond any technical aspect, you must improve the tactic, know what to use on each occasion. When you get it, it will be more regular, you will suffer less scare Tim Henmanformer world number four, in conversation with several international media, including the world, through Eurosport and Max, the channels that will offer the next Roland Garros.
According to the British, who reached the semifinals in the Roland Garros of the Argentines in 2004, between Montecarlo, Barcelona, Madrid and Rome, that is, in the next tournaments, Alcaraz will be more consistent and will add more than one title: “It is the perfect opportunity to respond to the latest defeats and play better.” But others do not think like him.
“Sometimes miracles will do, sometimes it will lose”
“Alcaraz will go through these inconsistencies throughout his career. Sometimes miracles will do and sometimes he will lose the game,” he says Mats Wilanderformer number one and winner of seven Grand Slam, also Eurosport and Max analyst. The Swedish sets as an example the defeat against Draper in the semifinals of Indian Wells Masters 1000, when he gave the first set, dazzled in the second and ended up yielding the third: “It is very strange Agassithat shone in a Grand Slam and then fell in the first round, to remember a similar case. “
“When he goes through a bad streak, his coach, Juan Carlos Ferreroyou have to raise: what do we do now? It is difficult because Alcaraz plays as Alcaraz plays and if he changes tactics he may not work. Personally I hope I don’t play otherwise because it is very fun, but it is inconsistent, “Wilander concludes that, despite everything, he also believes that Spanish will shine on clay.
Holidays at the Riviera Maya
After all, it is the surface that best suits your tennis and where it has more margin of error, especially in Roland Garros to five sets. Last year, his tour was incomplete, with the absence in Montecarlo, Barcelona and Rome and the Troopiezo Early in Madrid, and that is why he is now facing an opportunity. Before arriving in Paris, he could add up to 2,375 points at the ATP ranking, approach the second place of Alexander Zverev and make sure a friendlier in the Grand Slam. In addition, of course, he has the opportunity to increase his record in the 1000 Masters tournaments, a category where he has only sent five times, despite his four large.
During this week, before traveling yesterday to Montecarlo, Alcaraz has trained with Ferrero on the slopes of Real Murcia Tennis Club, after spending nine days of vacation with his family at the Mexican Riviera. The prompt elimination of Spanish in Miami allowed him to advance a disconnection in the St. Regis Kanai resort, which he already had scheduled, with the aim of reaching the next tournaments fresher. Now, already rested, you must address the crossroads that will decide your career: will it always be like this or is it something passenger?