Carlos Alcaraz was supposed to be the heir apparent. When he lifted the US Open trophy in 2022, many said it wasn’t just a coming-of-age moment for the teenager, but the symbolic start of a new era in men’s tennis. A year later, he backed it up with a thrilling Wimbledon triumph over Novak Djokovic, a match that had “changing of the guard” written all over it. He then won back-to-back majors claiming the French Open and Wimbledon titles last year. So how then can he possibly be considered to be underachieving by many fans and pundits?
The short answer is hype and insanely high expectations. It’s not that Alcaraz has disappeared - he’s still firmly planted near the very top of the rankings, playing well and winning titles. But after a breakout period that felt meteoric, the unrealistic expectations placed upon him may now be weighing him down more than any on-court challenges. His performances over the last year have shown glimpses of brilliance but also inconsistency. The swagger that once seemed effortless has at times looked hesitant. When you’re only 21 years old and already being compared to Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic in their primes, that’s a lot to carry.
This pattern isn’t new in tennis. Rising through the ranks is rarely ever smooth or linear. Consider Boris Becker, who won Wimbledon at 17 but struggled with the pressure for years. Even Federer experienced ups and downs, only winning his first Slam two years after dethroning the GOAT at the time, Pete Sampras, at Wimbledon in 2001. And more recently, Nick Kyrgios, arguably one of the most naturally gifted players of the last decade, has repeatedly had his game overshadowed by off-court turbulence and inner conflict.
Alcaraz, thankfully, seems cut from a similar cloth to Federer rather than Kyrgios. His humility, work ethic, and grounding by coach Juan Carlos Ferrero suggest a player with the right environment to weather the mental storm. But no one is immune to the demands of expectation, not when the tennis world is ready to crown you as the next GOAT when you’ve barely reached manhood.
One of the overlooked pressures on players today in general is the sheer volume of tennis they are expected to play. Slam schedules, media duties, mandatory Masters 1000s, and now the ever-expanding exhibition circuit create a mental treadmill that’s hard to step off. Add in the constant comparisons to the Big Three and it’s no wonder that even someone as gifted as Alcaraz can look momentarily flat.
What should we expect from Alcaraz going forward? Hopefully, more of the same brilliance, but at a pace that allows him to grow naturally rather than live in someone else’s shadow. Patience will be key. His game still has room to improve, his body is still maturing, and real confidence in his abilities will be built over seasons not single tournaments. Importantly, he is still learning to navigate the subtle but crucial art of winning when not playing your best - a skill Djokovic mastered and Nadal turned into a career trademark. If he can nail that he will be extremely difficult to stop.
Alcaraz has already shown that his ceiling is sky-high. But development is notoriously difficult to predict. Let’s see what happens next month at Roland Garros and then at Wimbledon after that. With Sinner returning from a three month suspension, these events will provide an important barometer of where players are at and how the pecking order may look going forward. But even if Alcaraz happens to end this season without a Slam title, it shouldn’t be viewed as a step backwards. He’s already proven he belongs. The next chapter will be about staying there.
As fans, we would do well to remember that becoming great isn’t just about getting to the top - it’s about adapting and growing to be able to stay there for the long haul. If the tennis gods are kind, we’ll see Carlos Alcaraz atop the game for many years, watching him become one of the all-time greats. But let’s dial down the hype and let him write his story in his own time.
Coach’s Tip: Play at 80 per cent
Many players assume that more intensity equals more improvement. But pushing to hit every shot at 100pc leads to more errors and less insight. If you want to improve your consistency, particularly when rallying, try playing at 80pc of your maximum pace and power.
Not only does this help you keep more balls in play, it allows you to feel the ball better, improve your shot selection and timing, and stay in control of your technique. You’ll become more aware of what’s happening on the court rather than simply reacting to each ball, and your more informed decisions will be reflected in your results.
Learning to master the middle gears of your game is one of the most underrated tools for long-term success. See you on the court!
F Dan Barrie is the tennis director at Bahrain Tennis Academy and is a Racquet Sports Professionals Association (RSPA) elite professional. Connect with him via Instagram on @bahrain_tennis_academy.
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