While Carlos Alcaraz, the four-time Grand Slam king, kicked off the 2025 season with a win in Rotterdam, the tennis world has been less than impressed with his performance thus far. The 21-year-old Spanish phenom, often regarded as the second top contender behind Jannik Sinner, had a disappointing run at the Australian Open, bowing out in the quarterfinals to the legendary Novak Djokovic, who, despite nursing a thigh injury, delivered a stellar performance.
Expectations soared for Alcaraz’s performance at the Doha ATP 500 and notably at the Indian Wells Masters 1000. The Murcia native had previously claimed victories at the latter competition in 2023 and 2024, making his early exit in the quarterfinals – this time at the hands of Jiri Lehecka – a bitter pill to swallow for fans and critics alike.
Attempting a three-peat at ‘The Tennis Paradise,’ Alcaraz looked poised for a third consecutive win, having not lost a single set until the semifinals. However, Jack Draper, who had an impressive run in the tournament, capitalized on Alcaraz’s inconsistent performance to clinch the most significant victory of his career.
As Alcaraz sets his sights on the Miami Open – a tournament where he had his first Masters 1000 victory in 2022 – Spanish tennis icon Alex Corretja has come to his defense. Speaking on Eurosport, Corretja criticized the harsh scrutiny Alcaraz faces every time he fails to clinch a victory.
Corretja underscored Alcaraz’s rapid rise to stardom at a tender age of 21, pointing out that the young player still has much to learn. He emphasized that while Alcaraz’s international fame brings significant benefits, it also places a hefty burden on his young shoulders.
The former world No.1 also shed light on the toll of this intense pressure on Alcaraz. He pointed out that many fail to understand the exhaustion that comes with the fame and expectations placed upon the young player. According to Corretja, the road to popularity is paved with a hefty price tag that a young man like Alcaraz is paying.
As Alcaraz prepares for his next challenge, Corretja’s words serve as a poignant reminder to critics and fans alike – to temper their expectations and remember the relentless pressure these young athletes face in their pursuit of tennis glory.
