Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have solidified their status as the leaders of the next generation in men’s singles tennis, sharing all four Grand Slam titles between them in 2024. Alcaraz claimed victories at the French Open and Wimbledon, while Sinner completed the hard-court double, winning both the Australian Open and the US Open, heading towards finishing the year as the World No. 1.
While Sinner’s performance only grew stronger, culminating in his US Open triumph after successfully distancing himself from the noise surrounding his doping case, Alcaraz experienced a late-season slump. Though not alarming, questions have surfaced about the Spaniard’s ability to win on his bad days — a trait that often distinguishes legends from the rest.
In 2023, Roger Federer expressed concerns about placing immense pressure on young tennis stars, cautioning that unrealistic expectations could hinder their development. It seems the very scenario Federer warned about may now be unfolding.
“I always don’t like to put too much pressure on younger players, especially like, ‘He’s going to do this.’ But he’s (Alcaraz) the type of player who says, ‘Well, I’m coming to Wimbledon, I’m coming to win. I’m coming to Paris, I’m coming to win.’ So he’s putting that pressure on his own, which is great,” Federer told CNN Sports in 2023.
Despite Alcaraz’s impressive achievements in 2024, some fans have been quick to speculate whether the mounting pressure is beginning to affect the four-time Grand Slam champion. Since his Wimbledon triumph in July, Alcaraz has suffered three concerning defeats — in the final of the Paris Olympics to Novak Djokovic, a second-round loss to Gaël Monfils at the Cincinnati Masters, and a shocking second-round exit to World No. 68 Botic van de Zandschulp at the US Open. These defeats have led to concerns that Alcaraz might be a victim of his own success.
Some argue that the high standards Alcaraz has set are starting to impact his mental game, potentially causing him to lose his usual flair during crucial moments. This raises questions about the long-term impact of such pressure on his career.
The Second-Half Slump
The latter half of the year proved challenging for Alcaraz. His quest for Olympic gold in Paris ended in disappointment when he lost to Novak Djokovic in straight sets in the gold medal match. This result was particularly surprising, given how Alcaraz had convincingly defeated Djokovic in the Wimbledon final in straight sets — 6-2, 6-2, 7-6(4). The Paris loss was a stark reminder of the mental pressure that comes with high-stakes matches, especially for such a young player.
Is There a Pattern?
Alcaraz’s usual flair has seemingly faded since his loss to Djokovic in the Paris Olympics final. Despite defeating Djokovic at Wimbledon, he struggled to find his characteristic fiery start in Paris, eventually losing in straight sets, both of which went to tie-breaks.
Following that, Alcaraz exited early at both the Cincinnati Open and the US Open, showing a similar pattern of struggle. In Cincinnati, he was defeated by Gaël Monfils 6-4, 6-7(5-7), 4-6, and then lost in straight sets to Botic van de Zandschulp at the US Open, with a score of 1-6, 5-7, 4-6.
During his second-round match in Cincinnati, Alcaraz displayed uncharacteristic frustration, smashing his racquet while losing to Monfils. It was surprising to see the usually composed and cheerful Alcaraz vent his emotions on the court.
A Victim of His Own Standards?
IndiaToday.in spoke to Sports and Performance Psychologist Dr. Nanaki J. Chadha, who offered insights into Alcaraz’s recent struggles. Dr. Chadha suggested that Alcaraz might be a victim of his own high standards, noting that the pressure increases with each Grand Slam win, and it may be overwhelming. She explained that the young Spaniard might be pushing himself too hard in pursuit of success — a strategy that doesn’t always produce positive results.
“When a young and elite athlete like Carlos Alcaraz struggles under the weight of their own standards, several psychological factors come into play,” Dr. Chadha said.
“As Alcaraz becomes more successful, the expectations — both external and internal — rise. This can create pressure to consistently perform, leading to increased stress, anxiety, and self-doubt, especially when performance doesn’t meet those high standards,” she added.
Dr. Chadha also emphasized the importance of mental resilience in tennis, a sport that attracts global attention. The weight of expectations from fans worldwide can be daunting, and even the most talented athletes can find themselves struggling to cope.
“More often than not, athletes like Alcaraz develop a perfectionistic mindset, where they feel the need to maintain flawless performances and demand perfection from themselves. This constant pursuit of perfection can lead to an athlete being highly self-critical when things don’t go as planned,” Dr. Chadha noted.
“An athlete’s self-worth can sometimes become closely tied to their results. A drop in performance may feel like a personal failure, making it harder for them to bounce back,” she concluded.
Encouraging Signs
After his Paris Olympics defeat, Alcaraz reflected on the pressure he placed on himself to win gold for Spain and how it affected him after his loss to Djokovic.
“I think I put more pressure on myself because I was playing for Spain, for the Spaniards… I felt that I let the Spanish people down by not winning the gold… I probably felt the pressure in those situations. You play four Grand Slams every year; the Olympics is only once every four years,” Alcaraz admitted.
He also acknowledged why he lost his composure at the Cincinnati Masters and apologised for smashing his racquet.
At just 21 years old, Alcaraz still has a long career ahead of him. As the season nears its end, he will likely reflect on both his triumphs and setbacks, learning from his late-season struggles.
Alcaraz’s gentle smile when he walked over to the net to embrace Botic van de Zandschulp after his second-round loss in New York was certainly an encouraging sign.