The first couple of months of the new tennis season have seen a mix of impressive displays and disappointing moments from Carlos Alcaraz. The young Spanish sensation, as is his custom, did not participate in any tournament ahead of the Australian Open. Despite his dazzling performance during the tournament’s first week, Alcaraz was considered a favorite to win against Novak Djokovic in the quarterfinals, particularly after securing the first set.
However, the momentum shifted dramatically following an injury to Djokovic’s left thigh at the conclusion of the first set and the start of the second. Far from surrendering, the Serbian tennis legend, a 24-time Grand Slam champion, leaned into his vast experience and tweaked his strategies. Meanwhile, Alcaraz’s concentration faltered, leading to a series of unforced errors in the match’s latter half.
The world number 3 player was unable to reclaim control, eventually conceding in four sets, thereby exposing his limitations once more.
Following his Australian setback, the 21-year-old Murcia native returned to the court in Rotterdam, where he secured his first indoor title. Although his performance in the Netherlands was not his best, Alcaraz overcame the challenges and demonstrated a noticeable mental improvement.
The 4-time Grand Slam champion had his sights set on a second title of 2025 in Doha this week, but was taken by surprise in the quarterfinals by Jiri Lehecka. Despite leading by a break in the third set, Alcaraz was unable to stave off an unexpected comeback from the Czech player, who seized the most prestigious win of his career.
In a recent conversation with Eurosport, Juan Carlos Ferrero, former world No.1, revealed that Alcaraz has made significant strides in his attitude. Ferrero observed, “I assumed that Carlos would lose his enthusiasm when transitioning from a Grand Slam to ATP 500’s, but he has proven that maturity is currently crucial to him.
He further noted, “In Rotterdam, he was physically not at his best due to a cold, and his tennis game was not at its peak either. However, his attitude saw him through. It was an encouraging sign. We are optimistic that he can maintain his momentum throughout the week in Doha.”
