Carlos Alcaraz has quickly risen to become one of the most versatile and complete players on the ATP tour. Known for his exceptional agility, diverse shot-making, and on-court intelligence, Alcaraz has showcased an arsenal of skills that make him a formidable opponent on any surface. The 21-year-old Spaniard has already achieved notable victories across the clay courts of Roland Garros and the grass courts of Wimbledon in the same season, marking him as the youngest player in history to win both prestigious tournaments in a single year.
The year 2024 has proven to be another highlight in Alcaraz’s career. He clinched the Indian Wells title on hard courts early in the season and later claimed victory at the China Open in Beijing. These triumphs have solidified his reputation as a player capable of adapting to various surfaces and excelling across different conditions. However, the excitement surrounding Alcaraz is not just about his titles but also about the intense rivalry he has ignited with current world number one, Jannik Sinner. The Italian has been nearly unstoppable since January, losing only six matches all year. However, in their three official encounters in 2024, Alcaraz has claimed victory each time, proving that he has a unique edge over Sinner when it counts most.
Their rivalry took center stage once again last weekend at the ‘Six Kings Slam’ exhibition in Saudi Arabia, where the two young stars faced off in the final. Although Alcaraz initially took control, Sinner displayed impressive resilience, bouncing back after dropping the first set. The Italian leveraged his precise serve and powerful baseline play to turn the match in his favor, suggesting that on indoor hard courts, he might have the upper hand. Alcaraz, though highly skilled, has yet to fully conquer this particular surface, which remains a challenge for him as he seeks to complete his skill set.
Alcaraz’s difficulty on indoor hard courts became evident last year during the late stages of the season. After a strong start to 2023, he faced several unexpected defeats on indoor surfaces. One significant loss came against Roman Safiullin at the Paris-Bercy Masters, followed by a defeat to 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic in the Nitto ATP Finals semi-final in Turin. Unlike outdoor matches where Alcaraz can exploit his topspin-heavy groundstrokes and creative shot-making, indoor courts demand a different approach, emphasizing speed and power—traits that sometimes put Alcaraz at a disadvantage against hard-hitting opponents.
This sentiment was echoed by Ivan Ljubicic, Roger Federer’s former coach, who believes that Sinner may have an advantage over Alcaraz in the upcoming ATP Finals in Turin. In an interview with Sky Sport Italy, Ljubicic shared his insights: “Yes, for me, Jannik is the dark horse. Also because Alcaraz still has to convince me on indoor courts. He has a very high level on hard court, but even in Turin last year, he struggled a lot on indoor courts, especially from a mental perspective. Let’s see if that changes this year. If we want to look for someone closer to Jannik, I would say Zverev.”
For Alcaraz, the indoor season presents an opportunity for growth. Recognizing this area for improvement, he has committed to focusing on adapting his game to suit indoor surfaces. In a recent interview, Alcaraz admitted his inexperience in this regard, saying, “I’m not used to playing so many indoors, so for me, it’s always great to have matches in my bag on indoor courts just to get ready and try to play better. Right now until the ATP Finals end of the year, I’m going to try to play as much as I can on the indoor swing, so I get better every tournament, every match that I play.” His dedication to this challenge and his continued work with coach Juan Carlos Ferrero are likely to yield results, though only time will tell if he can make the necessary adjustments to compete at the highest level on indoor hard courts.
Alcaraz has strategically decided to skip both the Basel and Vienna tournaments this week to focus on training for the final stretch of the season. His next appearance will be at the Paris-Bercy Masters 1000, a tournament where he was eliminated in the early rounds last year. This will be followed by the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin and the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga, Spain, where he will represent his country. These tournaments will be crucial as Alcaraz continues his pursuit of excellence and hopes to end the season on a high note.
In addition to his personal ambitions, the end of 2024 holds a poignant significance for Alcaraz, as he will play alongside Rafael Nadal in the Davis Cup Finals, which will mark Nadal’s final appearance before retirement. Nadal, a 22-time Grand Slam champion, has announced that he will retire at 38, closing an extraordinary chapter in tennis history. Alcaraz, who has always viewed Nadal as his idol, reflected on the news with mixed emotions: “I was in shock a little bit. I saw it like an hour before the match, so I had to process it quickly before I could play. It’s really difficult news for everybody, and even tougher for me. He has been my idol since I started playing tennis. Losing him, in a certain way, is going to be difficult for us, so I will try to enjoy as much as I can when he’s playing.”
As Alcaraz looks ahead to his final tournaments of the year and prepares to lead Spain in the Davis Cup alongside his hero, his journey to master indoor hard courts and enhance his already impressive skill set will continue. His evolution as a player has captivated tennis fans worldwide, and with Nadal’s farewell on the horizon, Alcaraz’s role as a leading figure in Spanish tennis has never been more significant.