It is not easy for Carlos Alcaraz to handle all this pressure at just 21 years old. The young Spanish star has already achieved impressive results and has repeatedly repeated that he wants to become one of the best ever, but he knows that there is still a long way to go and that his opponents will do everything possible to hinder him.
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The former world No.1 became the youngest player in tennis history to win Roland Garros and Wimbledon in the same year (in 2024), but the vehement rise of his top rival Jannik Sinner over the past twelve months has further increased the pressure on Carlitos' shoulders.
The 21-year-old from Murcia is blamed for his numerous ups and downs during the season, which do not allow him to get close to the first position in the ATP ranking and which force him to stay behind Alexander Zverev as well.
The 4-time Grand Slam champion has worked a lot on this aspect together with his team members, but the fruits have not yet been seen in this first segment of the 2025 season. The Spaniard is literally unstoppable when he plays his best tennis, while he becomes extremely vulnerable when he has negative feelings.
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Alcaraz has an inner conflict
Unlike Sinner, the current world number 3 does not have the ability to find alternative solutions when he is not particularly inspired.
In a longinterview with 'TNT Sports', former world No.2 Alex Corretja gave Carlos some valuable advice: "He must not lose his DNA, but he must also understand that there are better days and worse days.
There are days when he can't play his best tennis and he has to find a way to win without shining. During 2024 Roland Garros, I felt like I had accepted this reality.
If you play 70-80 matches a year, there will always be times when you have to hold on and win by playing poorly.
This inner conflict tends to penalize Alcaraz for now, being used to feeling the ball perfectly.
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When he doesn't have the best feelings, he tends to become nervous and anxious."
