By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Thursday April 10, 2025
Carlos Alcaraz has received 4 majors earlier than turning 22 – and spectacular 25 % strike charge! – so it solely appears regular that the general public expects the Spaniard to proceed to supply title runs forevermore.
The strain that comes with that may be stifling, and that’s the actuality that Alcaraz should face as of late, as he kicks off his clay-court season with just one 500-level title to his title.
“Typically it’s troublesome to cope with,” Alcaraz mentioned earlier than taking the courtroom in Monte-Carlo this week (he’s into the quarterfinals already). “You’ll be able to really feel like what you achieved just isn’t adequate. It’s important to keep sturdy mentally.”
It’s positively not time to push the panic button, and those that are questioning what’s incorrect with Alcaraz (17-4 on the season) must be extra affected person. The race is lengthy, and the expertise is actual.
Andy Roddick, talking on Tennis Channel, is taking the lengthy view. The topic of whether or not or not Alcaraz ought to search for one other teaching voice was introduced up yesterday (context: whereas the staff mentioned Andrey Rublev’s work with Marat Safin) and Roddick was fast to shoot it down.
“We’ve to reset expectations,” the previous No.1 mentioned. “Carlos Alcaraz already has extra Majors than Andy Murray, he’s midway in direction of icons like Connors, Agassi. It’s simply absurd what he’s finished. We have to reset somewhat bit and anybody calling for a training change doesn’t know something about teaching.”
Alcaraz struck the identical chord when he was requested concerning the fixed expectations. It’s true that he’s anticipated to win each match he performs, notably when Jannik Sinner, nonetheless serving his three-month ban, is on the sidelines. However the actuality is, you’ll be able to’t win all of them.
“Lots of people may need mentioned we should always have performed higher tennis or received extra tournaments however I don’t assume that’s honest,” Alcaraz mentioned.
The Spaniard, who improved to 83-18 lifetime on clay with Thursday’s win over Daniel Altmaier, will face Frenchman Arthur Fils within the quarterfinals in Monte-Carlo on Friday.
