Carlos Alcaraz has lost himself a little during the Sunshine Double
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - MARCH 21: David Goffin of Belgium meets Carlos Alcaraz of Spain after ... More defeating him during Day 4 of the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium on March 21, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by)
Sun Tzu's The Art of War has been a key text for entrepreneurs in their business strategy and sports coaches in their pursuit of victory. 'Appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak,' is one of the oft-quoted nuggets from the infamous Chinese military leader's tome. It could be a decent piece of advice right now to Carlos Alcaraz if his post-match statements are taken at face value following recent defeats at Indian Wells and Friday's Miami Open. The Sunshine Double has clouded over ultimate dominance for the world No. 3.
Alcaraz couldn't spark any tricks in the Magic City during his latest reverse against Belgian veteran David Goffin in the last 64. The Spaniard struggled to shed light on his 7-5, 4-6, 3-6 defeat other than to say he performed poorly. 'I thought I was going to play really good tennis but it didn't happen … playing a break down in the third set, not feeling great or confident physically, it's really tough to get back.' the 21-year-old admitted.
'I think I was feeling good after Indian Wells, but now with this loss, I don't know what to say. Mentally, I'm screwed, to be honest,' he continued. The searing transparency from Alcaraz was also in widescreen view last week in California when he fell to Jack Draper. It's popcorn-eating content for scribes, but simultaneously eye-popping to hear such words from one of the best players in the world.
'I was nervous during the whole day, in the practice before the match,' said Alcaraz after his three-set defeat to the Briton in the first part of the Sunshine Double. I always say that I have to be focused on myself, on my own game. I think today I was more worried about his (Draper) level, his game, than myself,' mused the four-time Grand Slam champion.
Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal or Novak Djokovic might berate themselves on the court, but they wouldn't open up their soul to future opponents in such a manner. Alcaraz is in an elite sport where microphones can be under the player's nose before a mental reset is possible. Alcaraz is not playing that game anyway. Tell it like it is.
More worryingly, Alcaraz just seems very beatable right now. There's been a thread of vulnerability running concurrently beside some superb highs for some time. His dips been been covered up to a certain extent by his excellent Grand Slam record, even though the 2024 victories at Wimbledon and the French Open were not entirely convincing. Make no mistake. Alcaraz wins when it matters.
Ever since Alcaraz lost that immense Olympic final to Djokovic in August, the Spaniard has generally struggled to find his groove. He threw everything at the Serb that day. It kept coming back. Emotionally drained, he ran out of fuel at the U.S. Open and out of ideas against a hobbled Serb again in a four-set defeat in Melbourne. The 'shocks' in ATP tournaments are now becoming commonplace. There was Gael Monfils at Cincinnati; Tomas Machac in Shanghai; Ugo Humbert in Paris; Jiri Lehecka in Doha; and now Goffin in Miami.
Former world No. 2 Alex Corretja has spoken about the emotional wear and tear on his compatriot and a man fighting himself as much as his opponent. 'Mentally, sometimes he looks a little bit saturated, maybe he is not so fresh, and that entails everything we are talking about. It's a feeling that maybe he needs a little more tranquillity than I think he sometimes has,' Corretja told TNT Sports.
INDIAN WELLS, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 15: Jack Draper of Great shakes hands at the net after his three ... More set victory against Carlos Alcaraz of Spain in their Semifinal round match during the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 15, 2025 in Indian Wells, California. (Photo by)
Alcaraz will now look forward to the clay court season starting in Monte Carlo on April 6 as he looks to defend his French Open title. He recently employed Samuel Lopez as a secondary coach at the end of 2024, a man he stated brings him calm and who ended up as the default coach at his Rotterdam Open win in January when Juan Carlos Ferrero didn't travel to Holland. Ferrero has looked after Alcaraz since his charge came to his Valencia Academy as a 15-year-old.
Former New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick lived by Sun Tzu's notion that 'every battle is won before it is fought.' Alcaraz will have to come up with some clearer strategies before he steps back onto his most successful red dirt battlefield.
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