Carlos Alcaraz, fresh off his Roland Garros victory, has made an honest admission about the emotions he faced during his recent near miss at the Queen’s Club. Despite ultimately securing a hard-fought win, the young Spaniard confessed to a mental and physical struggle, offering a candid glimpse into the pressures of being a top-ranked tennis player.
Back on Grass After Triumphant Clay
Just nine days after his unforgettable comeback victory against Jannik Sinner in the Roland Garros final, Carlos Alcaraz returned to the court at the Queen’s Club, marking the start of his 2025 grass court season. He had been scheduled to play fellow Spaniard Alexander Davidovich Fokina but instead faced Adam Walton, a lucky loser, securing a 6-4, 7-6(4) victory.
“I’m really happy to be back here in London, playing again on grass,” a smiling Alcaraz said after his match. “The start of the tournament is never easy, the first match on grass is never easy to get used to the competition again, the grass again. I just want to say thank you (to the crowd) for helping me a little bit.” He also expressed his gratitude for the warm welcome he received from the British crowd, saying, “I feel at home, I feel loved.”
Alcaraz reflected on his short break after the French Open, saying, “I had some days off that I made the most of just to reset my mind a bit, rest up physically but my mind was right here.” He added, “After the French Open, to start the grass season is just a week so I didn’t have too much time – I’d love to have more time to recover and realise I won the French Open. It was great to have a few days back home and just a few days to get ready for here.”
A Grueling Match Against Munar
In his second match at the Queen’s Club, Alcaraz faced another Spaniard, Jaume Munar. This match proved to be a significant test of Alcaraz’s mental and physical endurance. Alcaraz ultimately prevailed with a 6-4, 6-7(7), 7-5 victory, marking his 15th consecutive win—the longest winning streak of his career.
“It was a really tough battle that we had today. Jaume is a great competitor, I think he showed how difficult it is to beat him,” said Alcaraz. “I’m just proud of the level I played, it’s my second match on grass this year. There were a lot of things going on, but I’m really happy.”
Despite owning just four tour-level wins on grass, Munar showcased his potential on the surface with a resilient display. The No. 59 in the PIF ATP Rankings thoroughly tested Alcaraz’s mental resolve in the final set, in which he struck with depth and precision to rattle off four consecutive games and forge a 4-2 lead.
The “Emotion” Confession
After the match against Munar, Alcaraz made a candid “emotion” confession, revealing the internal struggles he faced during the contest. “I struggled mentally and physically. I honestly still don’t know how I’m here now. I’m just really happy to give myself another chance in the quarter-finals.”
Alcaraz let slip two match points in the second set tie-break before rallying from 2-4 in the deciding set to seal an absorbing three-hour, 23-minute victory. He admitted to struggling both mentally and physically during the match, highlighting the immense pressure and expectations he faces as one of the top players in the world.
Preparing for Grass
Leading up to his matches at Queen’s Club, Alcaraz engaged in focused training sessions. He trained alongside American Jenson Brooksby in a 40-minute session. Following a round of blood flow restriction training, which involved using compression bands around his thighs, Alcaraz greeted Brooksby and eased into a light warm-up through the middle of the court. But the smiles quickly faded as he launched a barrage of punishing, deep, and pinpoint-accurate groundstrokes.
With coach Samuel Lopez observing closely and offering occasional guidance, Alcaraz drilled crosscourt forehands and backhands before turning his focus to an extended period of serve and return practice, a nod to their vital role on grass.
Throughout the week at Queen’s Club, Alcaraz and his team have kept things light by wrapping up sessions with a playful round of tennis golf. Fresh from his title runs at the ATP Masters 1000 in Rome and Roland Garros, Alcaraz returned to London in pursuit of yet another benchmark: His longest career win streak (15).
Alcaraz’s 2025 Season So Far
Carlos Alcaraz’s 2025 season has been marked by significant achievements and milestones. He began his season at the Australian Open, reaching the quarterfinals. He then played the Rotterdam Open for the first time, claiming the first indoor hardcourt title of his career.
During this season, Alcaraz:
- Won his first indoor hardcourt title.
- Became the first man to win ATP 500 titles on four surfaces (clay, grass, outdoor and indoor hardcourt).
- Became the youngest man in history to win titles on all four modern surfaces – 21 years and 9 months.
- Won his first Monte Carlo title and his sixth Masters title overall.
- Won his first Italian Open title and his seventh Masters title overall to complete his set of big clay titles (Roland Garros, Monte Carlo, Madrid and Rome)
- Won his second consecutive Roland Garros title and his fifth major title overall.
Alcaraz’s victory at the Roland Garros final was particularly notable. At five hours and twenty-nine minutes, this was the longest-ever Roland Garros final, and the second longest major final of all time. It was the first time Alcaraz had ever made a comeback from two sets to love down, and his fifth consecutive win over Sinner. Alcaraz became the first man in the Open Era to win a slam final saving 3+ championship points. Alcaraz became the second man in the Open Era to win four consecutive slams on natural surfaces, after Björn Borg, and the second man to win all five of his first major finals, after Roger Federer.
Break in Ibiza
After clinching his second Roland Garros title, Carlos Alcaraz took a break in Ibiza. Interacting with the media ahead of the Queen’s Club championships in London, the 22-year-old revealed why that break was crucial for him heading into the grass season.
Alcaraz told the media that he had fun there, which was more than enough. Speaking of his Ibiza experience, Alcaraz said, “It is time to turn off your mind a little bit and refresh physically, mentally and coming back to the grass season as good as you can. So, for me, having that time after such a good clay season this year, and such an intense Roland-Garros, it was great to have my days (in Ibiza).” During his stay, Alcaraz said he “disconnected” from everything and simply tried to have fun. “That for me is really important,” he said. “And coming back with more energy.”
Focus on Wimbledon
With Queen’s now behind him, Alcaraz will turn his attention to Wimbledon, where he is a strong contender. Alcaraz has won 21 of his last 22 matches on grass, having won the last two Wimbledon Championships in addition to a 2023 Queen’s Club victory.
Alcaraz’s ability to transition from clay to grass has been seamless. The reigning Roland Garros and Wimbledon champion advanced at the HSBC Championships, 6-4, 7-6 (4) over Adam Walton. “Grass season: here we go!” Alcaraz wrote on the camera lens following the one hour and 42-minute victory.
A Word of Caution
Following Alcaraz’s defeat at the hands of Jack Draper in the Indian Wells semi-finals earlier this year, former US Open champion Andy Roddick questioned whether Alcaraz’s candidness was a strategic misstep. On his Served podcast, in a conversation with four-time major champion Kim Clijsters, Roddick questioned the wisdom of such openness. He pondered whether Alcaraz’s frankness might be perceived as a mental weakness, potentially giving future opponents an edge.
This debate underscores the psychological complexity of competitive sports, where mental strength is as crucial as physical prowess. As Alcaraz continues his meteoric rise in the tennis world, it remains to be seen whether his honesty will be an asset or a hindrance in his journey. In the meantime, the tennis world will be watching with bated breath.
Other Articles
No Comment! Be the first one.