Carlos Alcaraz’s unique approach to pressure moments has caught Andy Roddick’s attention, with the former US Open champion noting how differently the young Spaniard handles tough situations compared to other tennis greats.
The 21-year-old phenom suffered a surprising defeat at the Miami Open recently. David Goffin shocked everyone by bouncing back from a first-set loss to knock out Alcaraz, leaving fans completely stunned.
Alcaraz seemed unusually tense throughout the match.
| Name | Age | Points | Stats 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| es Carlos Alcaraz | 21 | 68,791 | 25 - 5 |
At one point, down 0-2 in the final set, he had an intense sideline conversation with coach Juan Carlos Ferrero, who was desperately trying to help him turn things around.
His normally reliable forehand betrayed him with over 20 unforced errors. As the third set progressed, Alcaraz’s frustration grew visible as he tried to power his way out of trouble.
Roddick, speaking on his “Served With Andy Roddick” podcast, pointed out that this aggressive response to adversity is a pattern for Alcaraz – and it’s actually the opposite of what most tennis legends do.
“Right now, when he’s not playing well or not feeling comfortable, he goes more aggressive. That’s hard, and most of the greats throughout history tend to dial it back, find some margin and then all of a sudden, you’re consistent enough where you can take more risks and it’s not irresponsible.”
The former world No. 1 suggested Alcaraz needs a different approach when struggling.
“When he’s not feeling perfect, it almost feels like he gets more aggressive,” Roddick explained. “I almost want him to go into a match and say, ‘Okay, for the first six games, I’m literally going to take this person’s legs out and my ball is heavier than theirs. They’re going to have to hit winners for six games.'”
Alcaraz loves putting on a show. His flashy style thrills fans, but Roddick believes this entertainment mindset might actually work against him sometimes.
“I don’t think he likes getting winners hit on him. I think he likes to be the one that dictates and that’s his superpower, and sometimes our superpowers can also be weaknesses when not used in the right moments.”
It’s easy to forget just how young Alcaraz still is, despite his four Grand Slam titles. Learning when to dial back his aggressive instincts will likely come with experience over the next few years.
The world No. 3 sometimes struggles to adapt his game plan mid-match. He’s admitted to relying heavily on Ferrero’s coaching during matches – helpful in some ways, but possibly preventing him from developing his own problem-solving skills.
Alcaraz will face an interesting test next week at the Monte-Carlo Masters, where Ferrero won’t be in his corner.
This happened earlier this year at the Qatar Open too, but Alcaraz handled it impressively, winning the tournament with Samuel Lopez as his temporary coach.
Lopez will again guide Alcaraz in Monte-Carlo before Ferrero returns for the Barcelona Open the following week. The home tournament holds special meaning for Alcaraz, who claimed the title in both 2022 and 2023.
