Carlos Alcaraz assesses if his results since winning Wimbledon have been a ‘failure’

Ewan West 06 Mar 2024 11:21 AM

Carlos Alcaraz in action at the Australian Open

Carlos Alcaraz has asserted that he does not see “failure and frustration in what happened” since winning the 2023 Wimbledon title, while recognising he has to “learn from those experiences.”

The two-time Grand Slam champion believes “lowering the level and concentration” are what he must improve on and feels this started after the US Open in September rather than Wimbledon.

Alcaraz overcame 24-time major winner Novak Djokovic in a thrilling five-set final at Wimbledon in July last year, having secured his maiden Grand Slam crown at the 2022 US Open.

The 20-year-old has endured a more challenging run since Wimbledon, which was the last title he won, and he has reached one final in the 10 events he has played following his victory. The Spaniard was fell to Djokovic in an epic title match at the Cincinnati Masters in August.

Following a quarter-final exit to Alexander Zverev at the Australian Open in January, Alcaraz was downed by Nicolas Jarry in the semi-finals of the Argentina Open in Buenos Aires in February. He was then forced to retire during his opening match at the ATP 500 tournament in Rio due to an ankle sprain.

The world No 2 defeated his legendary countryman Rafael Nadal 3-6, 6-4, (14-12) in the Netflix Slam exhibition in Las Vegas on March 3. Alcaraz will next defend his title at the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Indian Wells, which will run from March 6-17.

Un placer jugar este partido con Rafa y un placer hacerlo en Las Vegas! ❤️ @RafaelNadal @netflix pic.twitter.com/g74lEshPIQ

— Carlos Alcaraz (@carlosalcaraz) March 4, 2024

Alcaraz was recently asked about the difference between his form and results before and after winning the 2023 Wimbledon title.

“The American tour I did after Wimbledon wasn’t bad at all. What happens is that people think that if you don’t win titles it’s bad and it’s not like that,” the Spaniard said in a press conference in Las Vegas.

“I made a few quarter-finals of a Masters 1000, the final in Cincinnati with Djokovic and semi-finals of the US Open. What can be improved is starting in September.

“Not lowering the level and concentration as I did. I have talked about it, Juan Carlos has talked about it and we have also dealt with it internally.

“This year, I started with good feelings in Australia, then in Buenos Aires it’s not like I had the best and Rio was something unexpected, but it can happen.

“I don’t see failure and frustration in what happened after Wimbledon. I have to learn from those experiences and of those moments.”

The 20-year-old also spoke about playing 22-time Grand Slam champion Nadal and his relationship with the 37-year-old Mallorcan.

“It’s always nice [to play Nadal]. We have faced each other three times. There have been two good battles and the first one is better not to remember,” Alcaraz explained.

“It is a good preparation for Indian Wells to see what we have to improve, where our level is and to continue learning from it now. It’s a privilege to have him around.

“We have not met much on the circuit, but I have seen him a lot on TV. I have grown up watching him play. And any personal experience with him has been incredible.

“I would have loved to share more time with Rafa. I try to enjoy every day that I do. meet and cross paths with him, and learn as much as possible. We are colleagues and rivals.”

Alcaraz is the No 2 seed in Indian Wells and will face either Luca van Assche or Matteo Arnaldi in his first match.