Despite being a two-time Indian Wells champion, Spanish tennis sensation Carlos Alcaraz confessed to feeling jitters at the commencement of any tournament. The 21-year-old player, currently the world No. 3, shared his insights after his dominating performance against Quentin Halys in his first match of the Indian Wells Masters.
Alcaraz, in his first appearance against the 59th-ranked Halys, secured a 6-4 6-2 victory, marking a strong start to his title defense. The young Spaniard, however, revealed that the unfamiliarity of playing against a new opponent contributed to his initial nervousness.
Alcaraz, who entered the tournament with a first-round bye as the second seed, displayed some early-match tension despite his strong start. He managed to secure an early break in the third set, but the tension was palpable when he faced a break point while serving for the first set in the 10th game. Nevertheless, the young prodigy saved the break and went on to win the set.
As the match progressed, Alcaraz seemed to shake off his initial unease. He started the second set with an assertive performance, securing back-to-back breaks and a commanding 4-0 lead. His confidence was evident as he served out for the match in the eighth game.
The four-time Grand Slam winner candidly shared his thoughts on the nerves he often feels at the beginning of a tournament. “Every tournament feels kind of new,” he explained, “I’ve played many times, but every year brings different feelings, different dynamics.”
The prospect of facing Quentin Halys for the first time added to Alcaraz’s anxiety. “I didn’t know what to expect initially, which made me a bit nervous,” he admitted. The pressure to perform well in a tournament he is passionate about also contributes to the nerves, according to Alcaraz.
Despite the nerves, Alcaraz acknowledged that this is a part of the tournament experience. “I try to act as if I’m not nervous, but I believe it’s normal and will probably happen at every tournament,” he added.
As he moves forward in the tournament, Alcaraz is set to face Denis Shapovalov with a spot in the Indian Wells round-of-16 at stake. Despite Alcaraz triumphing over Shapovalov in straight sets at the 2023 French Open, the in-form Canadian, with recent victories in Dallas and a semifinal appearance in Acapulco, is expected to pose a formidable challenge.
