Justine Henin has weighed in on Carlos Alcaraz's type forward of the ATP Finals. The Belgian expressed uncertainty concerning the Spaniard's skill to ship his finest tennis on indoor courts.
Henin believes Alcaraz nonetheless wants to beat the indoor problem – one of many few remaining gaps in his in any other case full recreation. The 22-year-old celebrated his first indoor onerous title this 12 months in February in Rotterdam.
Nonetheless, he suffered an early Paris Masters loss to Cameron Norrie final week, lacking worthwhile factors and permitting Jannik Sinner to remain alive within the year-end no. 1 battle.
Courtroom-level factors on the brand new Centre Courtroom between Carlos Alcaraz and Karen Khachanov đŸ¤©#RolexParisMasters pic.twitter.com/etttVrG1m1
— ROLEX PARIS MASTERS (@RolexPMasters) October 24, 2025
Regardless of coaching nicely forward of the event, Carlos by no means favored his efficiency in opposition to Cameron, not even after profitable the opening set. He fell within the second and third, ending his streak of 9 consecutive ATP finals since April.
The current defeat raised contemporary questions over his rhythm and adaptableness in enclosed circumstances, regardless of the actual fact he owns all of the weapons to play nicely below the roof.
Alcaraz went dwelling for extra coaching classes forward of the ATP Finals, the place he’ll play as world no. 2 after dropping the ATP throne to an in-form Jannik Sinner on Monday.
The Spaniard has but to grasp the elite ATP occasion, having reached one semi-final in 2023. A 12 months in the past, the 22-year-old misplaced two matches and did not go the round-robin stage.
Carlos Alcaraz, Rotterdam 2025© Stream screenshot
Carlos should step in and supply extra environment friendly tennis subsequent week. He’ll arrive in Turin with 1050 factors benefit over Jannik, who’s the highest favourite to repeat final 12 months's run and win the title with out a loss.
Henin famous that the year-end grind may additionally weigh closely on the younger champion, who’s now preventing to guard the ATP throne in an exciting battle with an indoor king, Sinner.
As Turin approaches, Alcaraz faces the twin problem of mastering his indoor recreation and managing the bodily and psychological fatigue from an prolonged season.
The ATP Finals will reveal the year-end no. 1 participant and whether or not Carlos has solved the one riddle that continues to hassle him – offering his A-game below the roof.
Will he reach Turin? We’ll discover out subsequent week.
Carlos Alcaraz, Paris Masters 2025© Stream screenshot
"I believe there are nonetheless questions on Carlos' skill to carry out nicely indoors, although he appears to have quite a lot of potential in these circumstances. There's no approach round it; it stays a hurdle he wants to beat.
It's the top of the season, although Carlos has had a while off in current weeks. He should handle the fatigue from the entire season and the strain of the ATP Finals.
It's a event the place he's by no means been capable of shine as he would have favored, particularly figuring out that Jannik might be arriving in high type," Justine Henin mentioned.
