The hunter has become the hunted, and it has not been easy
In July, the Colgate grin on Carlos Alcaraz’s face could have illuminated the dark side of the moon. He outwilled Novak Djokovic, the greatest prizefighter in tennis history, in a five-set Wimbledon final. It was clinching evidence that Alcaraz was worth the hype that has surrounded him since last year.
At 20, the Spaniard had two major titles (he also won the 2022 US Open), the world No. 1 ranking and a victory over Djokovic in the punishing five-set format. Alcaraz was deservedly feted in the days after his Wimbledon coup.
But then the hunter became the hunted. And it hasn’t been easy. Not even for a talent like Alcaraz. On Friday night in New York, the top seed lost in the US Open semifinals to No. 3 Daniil Medvedev, the gangly Russian maverick with a poet’s wispy beard.
Many thought it would be a Djokovic-Alcaraz US Open final. But Medvedev, a former world No. 1 and US Open champion, was never going to be an easy opponent for Alcaraz. Even though Alcaraz beat him easily in their two previous meetings this year. When Medvedev is dialed in, his hard serving, sweeping court coverage and whiplash groundstrokes can be a tough challenge for anyone. In the 2021 US Open final, he handed Djokovic a rare straight-set thrashing.
When you hit the big time, the rewards multiply, and so do the pressures. There is the pressure to cash in on the commercial opportunities. There is pressure to perform on court. Recently, Alcaraz was part of a Louis Vuitton campaign, among others. But on the court, there were signs that he was feeling the burden of celebrity.
He threw his racquet during a loss to Tommy Paul in Toronto, something he had promised he’d never do. In Cincinnati, after an epic 3 hour 49 minute defeat against Djokovic, he broke down in tears. Rarely did he look at his best during the season’s hardcourt swing.
What is a bit worrying is his tendency to play to the gallery, regardless of the match situation. This costs him important points. Also, the celebrations sometimes are too frequent and in your face. Likewise, the constant dialogue with his box in Spanish. These things get the crowd going but can rile up opponents.
It is true that sport needs characters and Alcaraz’s originality and innovative shotmaking must be celebrated. But finding the balance between being solid and entertaining would serve him better.
All said, Alcaraz need not be too concerned. There are many players who struggle after a spectacular breakthrough. In 1990, a 19-year-old Pete Sampras came out of the blue to win the US Open. The next twelve months, he hated being the marked man so much that he admitted to feeling relieved when he lost the next year. It was a “monkey off the back”, Sampras said.
Sampras did not win another major title for nearly three years. Djokovic too did not win a major for three years after capturing his first (2008 Australian Open). Both, however, found a way out and eventually became winning machines.
At an age when Alcaraz still has some acne he has done more than what people do in entire lifetimes. It’s just that he has the ability to do a lot more. All that is needed are a few tweaks in his game and approach.