The two-time Wimbledon champion has revealed how he likes to relax away from the court and opened up on the sport he believes helps with his tennis game
Carlos Alcaraz has opened up about his love for golf and revealed that hitting the fairways helps him unwind from the pressures of the tennis world.
The Spanish superstar clinched his second Wimbledon title in July but has faced a tough time on the court recently. An unexpected and shocking exit from the US Open in just the second round was preceded by an on court meltdown at the Cincinnatti Open and a defeat in the gold medal match at the Paris Olympic Games.
However, the 21-year-old has shared how swapping his tennis racket for a golf club actually benefits his tennis game. During the New York grand slam, he opened up on playing a round of golf before the event with fellow tennis star, and his rival from the US Open final two years ago, Casper Ruud.
Reflecting on his passion for the sport after his first-round win over Australia’s Li Tu at Flushing Meadows, Alcaraz talked about how his love for golf is giving him the chance to take a breather from the intense nature of the ATP tour, reports the Express.
“With Casper (Ruud), we’ve talked a lot about playing one day and here we finally made it happen,” Alcaraz said. “We talked a lot about how good golf is for us, for our minds, just to disconnect and turn off our heads. That helps us be better on court, in tournaments.”
The two-time Wimbledon champion has revealed that hitting the golf course is the “perfect” way to unwind after a tough match or a vigorous training session. “When I’m playing golf, I’m not thinking about my next match or my training schedule,” he said.
“I’m just enjoying the game, the fresh air, and the challenge of trying to improve my swing. It’s a perfect way to recharge mentally and physically.
“We can’t think about tennis 24 hours a day, seven days a week… you need to live your life too, be able to do other things. You need to think about other things to then perform at 100 percent better on the court and feel better.”
Alcaraz’s recent slump in form has left fans and experts alike baffled. The ex-US Open winner was sensationally knocked out of the tournament by the unseeded Botic van de Zandschulp.
Succumbing to a crushing 6-1 7-5 6-4 loss, the young Spaniard was at the heart of one of the biggest shocks in tennis in recent years. Post-match, Alcaraz didn’t hold back on self-criticism, admitting it felt like “a step backwards”.
“The truth is that what I feel right now is that instead of taking steps forward I have taken steps backwards in terms of my mind and I don’t understand why,” he said.