Carlos Alcaraz has to figure out how to win 'when at his worst', says Mats Wilander, talks Jannik Sinner rivalry
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Published 20/03/2024 at 17:02 GMT
Carlos Alcaraz continues to light up the circuit with his unmissable brand of tennis, and he claimed a first title of the year at the recent Indian Wells. Mats Wilander has analysed what that victory says about Alcaraz's game, why his rivalry with Jannik Sinner will "get better and better", and why he sees elements of Roger Federer in the Spaniard's popularity.
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Carlos Alcaraz needs a "leap in understanding" in how he can win matches when he is "at his worst", believes Mats Wilander.
The Spanish sensation broke a relative trophy 'drought' at Indian Wells earlier this month, the title being the first the 20-year-old has lifted since Wimbledon last year.
Alcaraz, now competing in Miami, put together a fine run at 'Tennis Paradise', beating his Australian Open conqueror Alexander Zverev in the last eight, sweeping past Jannik Sinner in the semi-finals, and then downing Daniil Medvedev in the final to secure his triumph.
Some of the talk centred around how conditions favoured Alcaraz in the Californian desert, and Wilander - amid an overall assessment of where the Spaniard is at in his development - thinks it pointed to a major way he can improve his game.
"I think there was a lot of pressure on him [Alcaraz] after he won his first Grand Slam at the US Open a couple of years ago," Wilander, speaking to Eurosport, began.
"And I think winning Wimbledon, maybe that is what pressure feels like. But it seemed to me like he wasn't quite as keen or as interested in the final picture, which is winning the tennis match.
"So I think that for him it was most probably more, and I can relate to this myself, I won Roland-Garros on clay in 1982. Then I won the Australian Open in 1983 on grass. That legitimised me being at the top of the game, to me, and maybe I even thought it legitimised it to other people. You could say whatever you want, but I know how to play and win on two different surfaces.
"For Carlos, I think it was the same thing. I really do. I think there was a moment of relaxation, relief, maybe more than anything. And then let's keep in mind searching: he's still searching for his game.
"And I think for Carlos, I think he has to move towards being a better player every single day. Not when he's at his best, but when he's at his worst. He needs to figure that out very early in matches, and we saw in the Australian Open against Sasha Zverev: he didn't, and he never got it back.
"So I think that there's a big leap in understanding how good he is and what it takes for him to beat most players. But pressure, I think he loves being out there. I think he loves the enjoyment part of hitting a tennis ball. He now seems to be enjoying winning again, which is really good to see."
Why Sinner rivalry is 'so great'
It looked at the outset of their Indian Wells semi-final that Sinner would make it a third win on the spin against Alcaraz, when he strode to the first set 6-1.
But back came Alcaraz to take the next two sets, in the pair's latest duel.
Wilander gave his opinion on why he sees the pair's rivalry as comparable to that seen between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
The Swede said: "I think this is what's going to make this rivalry so great. This is what made Federer and Nadal's rivalry so great. Contrast of style first of all, it seemed like after a while, Federer and Nadal, of course, they care more than anything in the world at the moment who's winning the match, but before, no, didn't matter. Afterwards, not that much.
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Watch highlights as Alcaraz beats Sinner at Indian Wells to end Italian’s winning run
"Of course, the guy that won has to play another match normally, and Sinner-Alcaraz is the same. So I think what we're seeing is one of the main reasons why both of them are going to play great tennis: because they're so relaxed and they are only worried about each other's games.
"There is no mentality situation where the other guy doesn't like the other guy or the other guy is trying to slow things down or be unsportsmanlike - that doesn't exist between them.
"Therefore, they will always love this rivalry as long as they keep winning one each. I think this rivalry is going to get better and better and they're going to enjoy it more and more."
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Carlos Alcaraz of Spain warms up prior to a practice session before playing against Daniil Medvedev in the Men's Final during the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 17, 2024 in Indian Wells, California.
Image credit: Getty Images
Alcaraz popularity 'like Federer in his heyday'
Alcaraz, in such a short career, has already become one of the most watchable players in the game, with his remarkable shot-making twinned with incredible athleticism.
And Wilander thinks that his Indian Wells victory will be "huge for his confidence".
"I think for Carlos Alcaraz, this victory, even though somehow I think it was kind of expected - OK, he hasn't won since Wimbledon, but clearly last year and the year before, we realised how good the conditions are in Indian Wells for him - and he seemed like he was playing good in the beginning," Wilander said.
"I saw the first round where he lost a set, and then he got better and better. And first, the crowd loves him there like I've never seen a player, maybe Roger Federer in his heyday, but they go absolutely crazy for him there. It's a lot of Hispanic people, he's the clear crowd favourite.
"And I think there is a certain amount of pressure at the same time as I think he really loves just playing there. You can tell against Jannik Sinner, even if Sinner most probably hurt himself a little bit in one of those falls, but at the same time, it's nearly impossible to beat Alcaraz on those courts.
"I think for him just to win on the courts, that I think are his favourite surface, I believe slow, hard courts, fast balls, because of the air being warm and a bit of altitude.This is Alcaraz's territory. He's always going to do well there, even if not in his best shape.
"But it did turn out he played well. He can play better, but I think it is a huge victory for his confidence and just to stabilise. 'Hey, guys, I'm still here. You give me the right conditions; I am the best player in the world.' That is kind of what he's saying."
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