Carlos Alcaraz, the 21-year-old Spanish tennis sensation, stood atop the clay courts of Monte Carlo on April 13, 2025, clutching his first Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters trophy, a symbol of triumph over both his opponent and personal turmoil. After defeating Lorenzo Musetti 3-6, 6-1, 6-0 in a final marred by the Italian’s leg injury, Alcaraz hinted at a “difficult month” that had tested him beyond the court. In a candid moment at the Barcelona Open, where he advanced to the semi-finals, he finally peeled back the curtain on those struggles, revealing a battle with self-doubt and external pressures that nearly derailed his focus. “It was a combination of everything,” Alcaraz confessed, his voice carrying the weight of vulnerability. “The loss to Draper hurt me a lot.”
The Monte Carlo victory, Alcaraz’s sixth ATP Masters 1000 title, was a turning point. Coming off a semi-final defeat to Jack Draper at Indian Wells and a shocking second-round exit to David Goffin in Miami, the Spaniard arrived in Monaco with a 15-4 record but a clouded mindset. “I was struggling stepping on the court and finding a good way to play the matches,” he admitted. The expectations of fans and analysts, who anticipated a dominant clay season given his 2024 French Open title and Olympic silver, weighed heavily. “A lot of people have really high expectations of me, probably want me to win almost every tournament,” he said, acknowledging the pressure to emulate Rafael Nadal’s clay-court legacy. Yet, Alcaraz’s revelation went deeper, touching on a personal struggle to stay grounded. “It has been really difficult to not think about everything, just focus on the important things,” he added.
His Monte Carlo campaign was a testament to resilience. After dropping the first set to Francisco Cerundolo in the opening round, Alcaraz roared back, bageling the Argentine in the second set and allowing just one game in the third. “I had to play my tennis,” he said, crediting a shift to aggressive play and net approaches for his 3-6, 6-0, 6-1 comeback. Subsequent wins over Daniel Altmaier, Arthur Fils, and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina showcased his adaptability, culminating in the final against Musetti. Though the third set was one-sided due to Musetti’s injury, Alcaraz expressed empathy. “It is not the way I would have wanted to win,” he said, wishing his opponent a swift recovery. The victory propelled him to No. 2 in the PIF ATP Rankings, overtaking Alexander Zverev, and solidified his lead in the PIF ATP Live Race to Turin.
Alcaraz’s introspection revealed a matured perspective. “One thing I learned the last month is I have to think about myself, my team, my family, my close friends,” he said, emphasizing a newfound focus on his inner circle over external noise. This mindset, forged through a “really difficult week with a lot of difficult situations,” carried him through Monte Carlo’s chilly, slow conditions, where he leaned on his big-match experience from Roland Garros and Madrid. “I’m proud with how I dealt with everything,” he said, a sentiment echoed in Barcelona, where he dispatched Alex de Minaur 7-5, 6-3 to reach the semi-finals. His 27-1 record on Spanish clay since 2022, including titles in Barcelona (2022, 2023) and Madrid (2022, 2023), underscores his dominance, yet he remains humble. “I just want to keep going. Let’s see how many I can get,” he said of future Monte Carlo titles, dismissing comparisons to Nadal’s 11 as “impossible.”
The Barcelona semi-final against Arthur Fils offers Alcaraz a chance to extend his 13-match tournament winning streak and inch closer to a third title. “I’m really happy to be here,” he said, savoring the home crowd’s support. His journey, marked by eight clay titles and a 36–21 record against top-10 players, reflects a champion learning to balance stardom with self-care. As he prepares for Madrid and Roland Garros, Alcaraz’s revelation of his struggles humanizes his ascent, proving that even the brightest stars face shadows. With his team and family as his anchor, he’s ready to conquer the clay season, one fearless shot at a time.