‘Carlos Alcaraz has so much to learn to get through more difficult times’, says former world No 1
Tennis legend Justine Henin believes Carlos Alcaraz’s popularity as a player puts “enormous pressure on his shoulders” and also expressed concern about the “excitement” around Joao Fonseca.
Alcaraz delivered an erratic display in a shock 7-5, 4-6, 3-6 defeat to David Goffin in his opening match at the Miami Open.
It was a second straight defeat for Alcaraz after he struggled in a 1-6, 6-0, 4-6 loss to Jack Draper in the semi-finals of the Indian Wells Masters.
The world No 3 candidly spoke about his nervousness on the day of the match and the fact he was “worried” about facing Draper.
“I didn’t approach the match in the best way that I could,” the 21-year-old Spaniard explained in his press conference.
“So I was nervous during the whole day, in the practice before the match, and I think that affect, you know, to the match. So that’s why I had the conversation with Juan Carlos [Ferrero] on the bike.
“I always say that I have to be focused on myself, on my own game. I think today I was more worried about his level, his game, than myself.
“So I think that’s was a big problem to me, that I was always thinking about his weakness than my best things. So when you’re thinking more about the opponent than yourself, then it is a big problem.
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Alcaraz’s holds a 15-4 record in 2025, having won his only title of the season to date at the Rotterdam Open in February.
The four-time Grand Slam champion is next set to compete at the Monte Carlo Masters, where he will begin his clay-court campaign.
Speaking on Eurosport France, Henin suggested Alcaraz’s ability to handle adversity will improve while highlighting the difficulty of being under such heavy scrutiny.
“We can see that he’s going through phases of reflection,” said the seven-time major winner and former world No 1.
“He’s a 21-year-old player who has won four Grand Slams but still has so much to learn to get through more difficult times.
“Since he arrived on the tour, what have people been saying about Carlos Alcaraz? ‘It’s extraordinary what he offers us in terms of tennis, it’s completely crazy, we love watching him play, he’s the player we most like to see evolve.’
“And he knows all of this, he hears it because we hear everything anyway, they can no longer be protected from that and it puts enormous pressure on his shoulders.
“For me, a Fonseca who arrives and when I see the excitement around this boy, it scares me a little.”
