There are few players in tennis, male or female, more popular than Spanish star Carlos Alcaraz.
Whether he wins or loses on the ATP Tour, the 21-year-old never fails to entertain, bringing audiences to their feet around the world on a regular basis.
Alcaraz is a four-time Major champion, having won the French Open, US Open, and Wimbledon twice, during his five-year stint as a professional.
The world number three recently suffered a tough defeat in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open, as he failed in his quest to become the youngest male player to complete the Career Grand Slam.
Alcaraz lost to Novak Djokovic in a four-set thriller on Rod Laver Arena, as his dreams of lifting the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup came crashing down once again.
One thing that has never left Alcaraz, even during his toughest moments, is his smile, something that one top Spanish WTA star has now given her thoughts on.
Paula Badosa says Carlos Alcaraz’s ability to smile under pressure is ‘unbelievable’
Appearing as a guest on the Tennis Insider Club Podcast, world number ten Paula Badosa spoke about how the younger players on tour deal with pressure.
“Sometimes I look at them as an inspiration, because they deal with it [pressure], especially Carlitos [Carlos Alcaraz], it’s unbelievable,” she said.
“He’s like smiling all the time, I’m like you’re 5–5, and you’re smiling, how is this possible?”
Alcaraz isn’t the only player that has that ability, as she went on to praise one of his biggest rivals, for doing the same.
“I think Jannik [Sinner] or Carlitos are very similar, so I think that’s like an inspiration for us, dealing with it that way is the proper way to do it,” she said.
“I think that’s the main key of success.”
Sinner and Alcaraz are currently ranked number one and three in the world and have thrilled fans during their ten career meetings to date.
The Spaniard currently leads the head-to-head 6-4, having won all three of their encounters in 2024.
| Match | Winner | Loser | Score |
| 2024 Beijing – F | Carlos Alcaraz | Jannik Sinner | 6-7, 6-4, 7-6 |
| 2024 French Open – SF | Carlos Alcaraz | Jannik Sinner | 2-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 |
| 2024 Indian Wells – SF | Carlos Alcaraz | Jannik Sinner | 1-6, 6-3, 6-2 |
| 2023 Beijing – SF | Jannik Sinner | Carlos Alcaraz | 7-6, 6-1 |
| 2023 Miami – SF | Jannik Sinner | Carlos Alcaraz | 6-7, 6-4, 6-2 |
| 2023 Indian Wells – SF | Carlos Alcaraz | Jannik Sinner | 7-6, 6-3 |
| 2022 US Open – QF | Carlos Alcaraz | Jannik Sinner | 6-3, 6-7, 6-7, 7-5, 6-3 |
| 2022 Umag – F | Jannik Sinner | Carlos Alcaraz | 6-7, 6-1, 6-1 |
| 2022 Wimbledon – R16 | Jannik Sinner | Carlos Alcaraz | 6-1, 6-4, 6-7, 6-3 |
| 2021 Paris – R32 | Carlos Alcaraz | Jannik Sinner | 7-6, 7-5 |
How has Paula Badosa performed under pressure during her career so far?
Most would agree that players feel the pressure in the big moments, many of which come during the latter stages of tournaments.
There is no stage bigger than the final, as just one match separates a player from lifting the trophy.
Since making her WTA Tour debut in 2015, Badosa has played in four WTA Finals, coming through with a spotless record.
- 2021 Belgrade Open – Beat Ana Konjuh (6-2, 2-0 RET)
- 2021 Indian Wells – Beat Victoria Azarenka (7-6, 2-6, 7-6)
- 2022 Sydney International – Beat Barbora Krejcikova (6-3, 4-6, 7-6)
- 2024 Washington Open – Beat Maire Bouzkova (6-1, 4-6, 6-4)
Badosa secured the biggest win of her career at Indian Wells four years ago, as she took down Belarussian star Victoria Azarenka in the final.
Making her first Main Draw appearance in California, Badosa knocked out several big WTA Tour names on her way to the final, where she lifted the trophy after a three-set thriller.
| Round | Opponent | Score |
| F | Victoria Azarenka [27] | 7-6, 2-6, 7-6 |
| SF | Ons Jabeur [12] | 6-3, 6-3 |
| QF | Angelique Kerber [10] | 6-4, 7-5 |
| 4R | Barbora Krejcikova [3] | 6-1, 7-5 |
| 3R | Coco Gauff [15] | 6-2, 6-2 |
| 2R | Dayana Yastremska | 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 |
What’s next for Paula Badosa after reaching the 2025 Australian Open semi-finals?
Badosa reached the semi-final of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time in 2025, as she lost to Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets.
Like many of her WTA Tour rivals, the Spaniard will now head to the Middle East, for several big tournaments throughout February.
Badosa was the second seed for the Abu Dhabi Open, a WTA 500 event in the UAE.
- [1] Elena Rybakina
- [2] Paula Badosa
- [3] Daria Kasatkina
- [4] Yulia Putintseva
- [5] Liudmila Samsonova
- [6] Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
- [7] Jelena Ostapenko
- [8] Leylah Fernandez
The Spaniard was hoping to outlast number one seed and defending champion Elena Rybakina, who won her opening match against Katie Volynets.
She was upset, however, in her first-round match, as she lost in straight sets to Czech youngster Linda Noskova.
Badosa will now try to regroup ahead of the Qatar Open, in Doha, which begins on February 10.
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