Mental Toughness At Work: What Alcaraz's Epic Comeback Can Teach You

Forbes

a day ago

As a career coach and tennis lover, there's nothing more satisfying than exploring the mindset behind Carlos Alcaraz's unbelievable comeback to beat the 'unbeatable' Jannik Sinner in the Roland Garros final. All expected a battle on the court, but few predicted the mental war that would unfold. Down two sets and facing match points, Alcaraz turned a seemingly inevitable defeat into one of the most inspiring comebacks in tennis history. And in doing so, he offered a masterclass in mental toughness for every professional overwhelmed by high pressure, burnout, or career setbacks.
The real problem with turning a defeat or a challenge into a possibility is your mental toughness. It's really hard to stay strong and confident when you're on your last points, about to win, like Sinner was. I've felt it myself. The moment your dream feels within reach can be just as overwhelming as the fear of losing it. That's when staying present becomes essential. Lose focus, and you risk losing everything.
But it is even tougher to stay strong when you are about to lose your dream. Alcaraz showed is that staying strong when you're about to lose your dream is where true champions are made. He raised his fist in defiance to his team at 0-40. He called on the Paris crowd for noise. Then he hit a winner, and the momentum shifted.
Alcaraz said, 'I think real champions are made in those situations when you deal with pressure, with those situations in the best way possible. That's what the real champions have done in their whole careers.'
Here's how you can apply his mindset to your own career:
When Alcaraz was behind, he didn't tell himself it was over. He reframed the situation: 'I believed in myself the whole match".
If your job application was rejected or your pitch fell flat, don't conclude that you're not good enough. Ask: What's this teaching me? What's still possible? A setback isn't the end, it's just the beginning of a new lesson.
Belief isn't blind optimism. It's a decision to keep showing up. Alcaraz didn't win because he was always confident, but because he acted with belief even when confidence wavered. That's how I got into coaching, believing I had something to offer, even before I had those certifications. I used every resource I had to take that first step, and the wins followed.
So apply for the stretch role. Speak up in the meeting. Enroll in the course. Even if you're unsure, belief grows through action.
Rather than letting pressure freeze him, Alcaraz used it to sharpen his focus. 'In those moments, I told myself: it's no time to be tired, no time to give up.'
Stress can be good and bad at the same time. It can either paralyze or propel you. Learn to breathe through discomfort and ask: What's one thing I can control right now? That's where your power lies.
When you're doubting yourself, lean on your strengths or past wins. Think of that time when you aced that presentation. Think of that time you recovered from a defeat.
Alcaraz wasn't the only comeback story at Roland Garros. Coco Gauff, the American tennis star, also came from behind to beat world #1 Aryna Sabalenka in the women's singles.
Inspired by Olympic sprinter Gabby Thomas, Gauff wrote repeatedly on a piece of paper: 'I will win the French Open 2025.' She said,
'I've learned that it's impossible to prevent doubt from entering your mind, but it's not impossible to overcome.'
You can train, give it your all, and still make mistakes. But as Gauff reminds us, you don't have to be perfect. You just have to keep playing the next ball.
The mental toughness to belief in yourself even in the hardest time isn't a luxury, it's a career skill. When things look most uncertain, that's exactly when you need to reframe the story, anchor into belief, and keep showing up. As Alcaraz and Coco proved on the red clay of Paris, the match isn't over if the ball is still in play.