Carlos Alcaraz in the crosshairs: the'former tennis champion sounds the'alarm

After Jannik Sinner, it is Carlos Alcaraz’s turn. While at the beginning of the year the Azzurro had ended up in the crosshairs of critics after his knockout with Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open and his elimination in Doha, it is now the world number one’s turn to end up at the center of the storm for his defeats in Indian Wells and Miami.

It was the Spaniard’s attitude on the court, who appeared unmotivated and almost bored, that caused alarm. Also getting this impression was Greg Rusedski, who during the podcast ‘Off-Court with Greg’ analyzed the Murcia champion’s performance. “I think Alcaraz played a little too much tennis. If you look at the end of the season, he really didn’t have a real winter break. He played a lot of exhibitions in America, he went to the one in Korea before the Australian Open, then he also played in Doha.”

“So he played from the beginning to the end of the year, coming back number one, then he decided to continue. And when you play too much tennis, I’m sorry to say it, but you get a little tired, you get a little bored, it’s hard to be on the road week after week.”

According to Rusedski, Alcaraz needs to learn to manage himself, participating in fewer competitions. “That’s where Federer was a master. That’s why he had such a long career and such overwhelming dominance. In my opinion, Alcaraz did too many performances. You have to find moments to recharge your batteries, and no matter how good you are, it’s difficult. If your performance drops 2-3%, you get in the group, and guys like Fils, even though he beat him pretty easily in Doha, can get in contention.”

“Then there’s Medvedev, who beat him in Indian Wells, and then this week Korda played magnificently, but he wasn’t quite polished in the crucial moments, and it’s those little percentages that make the difference.” However, Rusedski does not think there is any need to worry: “He will take a rest, then he will be ready to go again, and for these champions, the main goal is to win the four majors.”