Carlos Alcaraz isn’t failing – we’re just expecting too much
The expectations placed on Carlos Alcaraz are simply unfair, according to former world No. 6 Gilles Simon.
Alcaraz has become tennis’s golden boy – a player fans love watching and expect to win every time he steps on court. He’s the kind of superstar who sells tickets and brings new fans to the sport.
| Name | Age | Points | Stats 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| es Carlos Alcaraz | 21 | 68,791 | 25 - 5 |
But that popularity comes with a price.
Like Djokovic, Nadal, and Federer before him, anything less than a tournament win is seen as a failure for Alcaraz. Being brilliant on all surfaces only raises those expectations higher.
His recent shock loss to David Goffin in Miami had critics buzzing, but Simon thinks we need to cut the young Spaniard some slack.
“The problem with this type of player is that they have a lot of attention, so in the end, every time we have big expectations for them,” Simon told Tennis365. “He won four Slams, and it’s crazy at his age. People are tough.”
What Alcaraz has already achieved at just 21 years old is remarkable.
“It’s unbelievable what he has achieved already, and he will achieve much more than he did,” Simon added.
The Frenchman believes our reaction to Alcaraz’s occasional losses is completely overblown.
“Every time someone like him is losing, we make it a big deal, as he’s supposed to win everything. I don’t believe he’s this kind of person.”
Simon points out that fans have developed an emotional connection to Alcaraz’s success.
“Everybody in the end likes him and when he’s not winning, we are disappointed and we put it on him – and I think it’s unfair.”
Can Alcaraz bounce back during the upcoming clay season? Simon has zero doubts.
“Sometimes, it’s a bit harder, but what I’m sure about is that he’s going to find a way again, and this is where it’s crazy. When he’s going to win, everyone is going to say: ‘He’s back on track.'”
The question isn’t if Alcaraz will win again – it’s when.
“Is it going to be at the French Open, is it going to be at the tournament before?” Simon wondered. “Maybe he’s going to play a bit more because he lost, so he has maybe that need to be on court and win matches to build that confidence that will help him again to win the big title in the end.”
The 40-year-old Simon urged fans to look at the bigger picture instead of obsessing over a single loss in Miami.
“The problem is with the media, we are always panicking when someone is winning, they’re going to win everything for the next five years. No, it always changed, and suddenly it changed like this, and no one sees it coming – because they are not looking at the big picture.”
Simon’s message is clear: Alcaraz is special, and his story is just beginning.
“The big picture is Carlos Alcaraz is a very special player, he has already achieved amazing things, and he will achieve amazing things again. When? He’s going to find a way. I don’t see anything as dramatic as it is.”
He ended with a thought that puts everything in perspective:
“You can maybe lose two tournaments and maybe win again the French Open and Wimbledon. Then I want to ask all the people who talked badly about what he was doing right now: ‘Ok, was it that important to lose in the first match in Miami?'”
