A former ATP player thinks he knows what Carlos Alcaraz may be struggling with in his tennis career.
At the age of just 21 the World number three already has things in the sport that the vast majority of players will not come close to.
Carlos Alcaraz has four Grand Slam titles to his name, and in 2022 he became the youngest World number one in history.
But since Alcaraz lost the Olympic final to Novak Djokovic in 2024 and expectation around him continues to grow, things have been somewhat trickier for the Spaniard.
What does Alex Corretja think Carlos Alcaraz is currently suffering from?
Alcaraz has already carved out what some would consider a legendary career at the age of just 21.
It can be argued that he is the biggest star of the new era of men’s tennis and is certainly one of the most exciting players to watch.
But in what is just his fourth full season on tour, Alcaraz is still learning plenty of things both on and off the court.
There are plenty of demands of him both on and off the court, which former Spanish number one and ATP number two Alex Corretja thinks has affected Alcaraz physically and mentally.
Furthermore, the 50-year-old believes Alcaraz’s team are trying to find the right balance between how much he plays and his off-court commitments.
“For me, everything is very abrupt with Alcaraz. Everything happened so quickly. He is still searching and trying to understand who he is, he is still figuring out what the circuit is and what life is on it,” Corretja told TNT Sports.
“Alcaraz has become a world star in the media and, therefore, has a very difficult weight on his young shoulders. Yes, he wins titles. If he earns money, we all know that he’s privileged.
“But the toll that comes with that, to become someone so powerful for the brands, for the fans, for everything that comes with it, now he has a series that has been made for him, a documentary, all the exhibitions, all this has a wear and tear.
“It has physical wear and tear, but it has tremendous emotional wear and tear. And that’s what I think he and his team are trying to find a balance, so that when the important tournaments come, he’s at 100%.”
Carlos Alcaraz aiming to return to winning ways at the Miami Open
Alcaraz lost a match at the Indian Wells Masters for the first time since 2022 courtesy of Jack Draper.
The British number one won their semi-final encounter in three sets before going on to defeat Holger Rune in the final to lift the title.
Alcaraz vowed to come back stronger at the Miami Open after that loss and he is on a mission to regain the trophy in Florida that he won for the first time in 2022.
He will commence his campaign against Belgium’s David Goffin, who came from a set down to beat Aleksandar Vukic in round one.
The pair split their first two meetings, and Alcaraz is determined to take the lead in their head-to-head rivalry.
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