Carlos Alcaraz agreed with Daniil Medvedev’s comments on players being mentally exhausted by the end of the season.
The 21-year-old has endured a long and gruelling campaign with little rest between some events, especially during the second half of the season.
The Spaniard has handled the schedule well, and currently has four titles to his name in 2024, two of which are Grand Slam titles.
But Alcaraz is struggling at the end of the season, after suffering early exits at the Shanghai and Paris Masters events, in addition to losing his first match at the ATP Finals.
Carlos Alcaraz responds to Daniil Medvedev’s remarks about struggling mentally
At the ATP Finals Daniil Medvedev stressed that he feels exhausted mentally after a draining campaign which is almost at an end.
Carlos Alcaraz has also had an exhausting season as he dealt with the pressure and expectation on his shoulders to build on what he produced in 2023.
He did just that, as Alcaraz won the French Open and Wimbledon back-to-back, and claimed an Olympic silver medal at his first Games.
But in November with the season almost over, Alcaraz shared Medvedev’s point of view and admitted feeling mentally as well as physically tired.
“I dare to say that everybody is tired mentally. If someone says that he is fresh, he is lying. But some players deal with it better than others. I am tired, I am tired mentally,” Alcaraz told reporters.
“A lot of matches, a tight schedule, a really demanding year with not too many days off or a period of rest, where you can practice at home.
“You finish one week or a swing and you only have two or three days off and you have to go other tournaments or parts of the world, so since the beginning of the year you are accumulating hours and days so you come into this part of the year tired.
“This year I am much better than last year but I have to find a way to perform and deliver good tennis, being tired mentally.”
Carlos Alcaraz’s bid for ATP Finals glory is in doubt
Alcaraz entered the ATP Finals as one of the favourites to take the title. But after Alcaraz lost to Casper Ruud in his opening match now suffering from illness, his hopes for glory in Turin are now in jeopardy.
Reports state that Alcaraz ended Tuesday’s practice session early ahead of his scheduled match against Andrey Rublev on Wednesday.
His preparation has been disrupted due to illness, coach Juan Carlos Ferrero explained what his player is dealing with and if he will recover for tomorrow’s match.
“As soon as he moves a little, he has trouble breathing. His chest is a little tight. A bad time to get sick,” the former World number one said. “We must not anticipate whether he will play or not tomorrow.
“We have all played in these circumstances. I think he will not get to the point where he will not go on court. It will be difficult for him to be 100% tomorrow.”
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