Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
Tennis365
Carlos Alcaraz ‘spectacular proof’ that ‘you win major trophies with your personality and resilience’
By Shahida Jacobs,
2024-06-11
Carlos Alcaraz lifts the French Open trophy
Patrick Mouratoglou believes Carlos Alcaraz was far from his best during his last two matches at the French Open, but the Spaniard proved that you can get out of a tight spot and win big titles through mental toughness and aggression.
Alcaraz won his third Grand Slam on Sunday as he defeated Alexander Zverev in the final at Roland Garros , coming back from two sets to one down to win the trophy. It was his second match in a row that went the distance as he also found himself behind against Jannik Sinner in the semi-final.
Renowned coach Mouratoglou feels Alcaraz’s “lows are too low” and he needs to avoid suffering too many dips during matches.
“Carlos Alcaraz’s triumph at Roland-Garros shows that you can win big even when not at your best,” the Frenchman, who won 10 Grand Slams with Serena Williams, said on social media.
“His victory is a testament to his exceptional talent and versatility. Defeating Jannik Sinner in the semi-finals and Alexander Zverev in the final, Carlos demonstrated key skills: never give up and always take control.
“A critical area for Carlos’s improvement is reducing the impact of his performance dips. His peaks are high, but his lows are too low, leading to easy losses when he’s not at his best. Every player has ups and downs, but the key is to minimise the lows.”
Mouratoglou also felt that Alcaraz “played poorly” against Sinner, but his mental resilience was crucial to beating the Italian while his offensive play against Zverev turned the final in his favour.
He added: “The primary lesson from Carlos’s matches is the importance of being aggressive. In the Roland-Garros final, his offensive play was pivotal. When he broke and went up 4-0 in the fourth set, he believed again that he could win in five sets. This mindset shift allowed him to relax, regain control, and secure the win.
“Taking control of the game by playing offensively, making winners and unforced errors, determines the outcome. When you are passive, it doesn’t depend on you. Carlos always takes his chance. It doesn’t work all the time, but it often does. He has won 11 out of his 12 five-set matches in Grand Slams by taking responsibility.
“Mental resilience is crucial. In his semi-final against Sinner, despite playing poorly, Carlos’s perseverance and mental strength led him to victory. When you feel bad, the risk is to focus on yourself. You don’t think the other player might also feel bad. If you stay mentally present and keep trying, you always have a chance. Most people complain when things don’t work, but this doesn’t help. You have to find a way to stay positive. Just think there is hope because there always is.
“Carlos Alcaraz exemplifies the importance of belief and aggression in tennis. His journey highlights mental toughness and staying in the game, even during tough times. Okay, the kid has a good forehand and backhand, but you win major trophies with your personality and resilience. Alcaraz is a spectacular proof of it.”
Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency:
Our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. As a platform hosting over 100,000 pieces of content published daily, we cannot pre-vet content, but we strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation.
Comments / 0