Has Carlos Alcaraz been found?
The young Spaniard full of talent, joyful, radiant and even impregnable on the court?
Maybe.
At the end of a perfectly mastered tournament, with prestigious victories against Alexander Zverev, Jannik Sinner then Daniil Medvedev in the final (7-6[5], 6-1), the 20-year-old Murcian won his first trophy on the ATP circuit, at the Masters 1000 in Indian Wells, in the Californian desert, since his victory at Wimbledon last July.
Eight months earlier.
An eternity.
In the meantime, the Spaniard has had a difficult time.
Surprising defeats, like in the semi-final of the US Open when he started as favorite against Daniil Medvedev, then in Shanghai against Grigor Dimitrov or even as soon as he entered the competition at the Rolex Paris Masters, against the Russian Roman Safiullin.
Defeats suggesting that the young Murcian had pushed the machine to the limit.
Also read: “The gold medal at the Paris Olympics, my main goal in 2024”: Carlos Alcaraz confides in Le Figaro
“It was difficult to find myself again”
Some even tried to assert that his “reign” was already ending.
“
Overrated
”, “
finito
”.
But no.
Carlos Alcaraz demonstrated this week in California that he is still in the game.
Despite his outsider status against Jannik Sinner in the semi-final (won 1-6, 6-3, 6-2) and his lack of confidence.
Particularly moved by his victory, Carlitos remains second in the world since he retains the points from his title last year.
Not one more.
But the main thing is elsewhere: confidence and pleasure on the court are back.
When in reality, these two elements - essential for a successful career as a professional athlete - had disappeared for several weeks.
“
The last two months, it was difficult to find myself again
,” confided Carlos Alcaraz at a press conference after his coronation, according to comments reported by L’Équipe.
“I wasn’t smiling as much as usual”
Carlos Alcaraz, looking back on his last weeks after his coronation
“
I didn’t enjoy going on the court.
My family, my friends, people close to me were wondering what was going on, because I wasn't smiling as much as usual.
I wasn't myself.
I am coming back from so many problems in my head and physically
,” he confessed after his coronation.
Carlos Alcaraz will try to follow suit to hope for a “
Sunshine Double
”, which rewards a player who wins the same year at the Masters 1000 in Indian Wells then Miami.
In 2023, the Murcian stopped in the semi-final against Jannik Sinner, who remains and will remain his direct opponent for many years.