Following a hard-fought victory in his opening match at the Cincinnati Open, Carlos Alcaraz wasted no time in his quest for peak form. The Spaniard, after a grueling three-set win against Damir Dzumhur, bypassed the traditional post-match rest and immediately headed to the practice court. This dedicated routine highlights his determination to iron out the inconsistencies that plagued him during the match and prepare for the challenges ahead.
The second seed’s match against the Bosnian Dzumhur was a rollercoaster of emotions and momentum swings, a far cry from the dominant form fans have come to expect from the two-time Grand Slam champion. Alcaraz raced through the first set with a commanding 6-1 score, but his game unraveled in the second, allowing Dzumhur to take it 6-2. The Spaniard was forced to dig deep, ultimately prevailing with a 6-3 victory in the decider. “It was just a rollercoaster,” Alcaraz admitted in his post-match comments. “Lots of good feelings, bad feelings, back to the good ones.” He was visibly relieved to get the win but knew there was work to be done. “All I can say is I am happy to get the win at the end and just have another chance to be better,” he said.
The decision to immediately return to practice was a direct response to his performance. Alcaraz acknowledged that the conditions in Cincinnati, with the ball flying fast, presented a unique challenge. He cited a desire to “pull out all the negative feelings that I could have had from the match” and regain his confidence. “I just wanted to feel much better and think and feel like my tennis is there, and it’s just about good feelings. I wanted to put a lot of reps on that,” he explained. This proactive approach underscores his relentless pursuit of perfection and his focus on the upcoming rounds.
This appearance in Cincinnati is particularly significant for Alcaraz as it marks his return to hard courts following his runner-up finish to rival Jannik Sinner at Wimbledon. The match against Dzumhur was his first on the surface since a disappointing early exit in Miami. His post-match confession revealed his awareness of the need to adapt to the hard-court conditions and find his rhythm. “Here it is difficult to play such great tennis,” Alcaraz said, noting the unpredictable bounce and speed of the ball. “You have to be ready to be in a good position for each shot and that is really difficult to do.”
As he looks ahead, Alcaraz is driven by the goal of finishing the year as the World No. 1, a position he currently holds a comfortable lead for in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin. His intense rivalry with Sinner adds another layer of motivation, with both players vying for the top spot. The Spaniard’s decision to take a break after Wimbledon, spending time with family and friends in Ibiza and southern Spain, was a crucial part of his preparation. “It has been wonderful to have those days,” he remarked. “I came back hungry and ready to win again.” This renewed focus, coupled with his immediate return to the practice court, demonstrates Alcaraz’s unwavering commitment to his craft. He knows that to achieve his ambitious goals, he must overcome every challenge, even the ones he creates for himself on the court.
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