What does Carlos need to improve to get back on top?

[socallefty]

Carlos Alcaraz has a pretty complete game, but it looks like Sinner is getting better fast in many aspects (serve, slice, net play, stronger legs) and Djokovic always looks to improve. Medvedev seems to be experimenting with playing more aggressively as he did in two sets of the AO final. What does Carlos need to improve to get back to #1 in the world and beat Djokovic, Sinner and other top players consistently to have a dominant year across all surfaces?

He needs to have better tactics or specific game plans for specific matches for sure. Often he gets behind playing aggressively and then goes for more to keep spraying more errors. But are there technique/footwork issues he should improve? Maybe better spot serving for sure? Maybe add a slice 2nd serve for variety in addition to the kick (like Djokovic). What else?

 

[UnderArmServeOP]

According to HIM, the serve.

 

[Krish872007]

Mainly point construction IMO. His shot selection is a bit weird at times and he can become predictable with his dropshots. Probably the serve too, as you said

 

[nolefam_2024]

He plays very creative game. But entire tour plays consistent game. I think he has everything he needs right now, probably needs more maturing which will only come with time.

 

[TheSlicer]

Yeah maturing that Game a bit, better decisions, adapting better to different players... Basically experience to me, and also second serve variety, obviously first serve acuraccy will improve little by little too

 

[GrandSlam24]

To be honest, I'm very surprised that he's negative against Zverev and Sinner. With Novak and Nadal it's still okay somewhere.
But something is still stuck. The two Grass titles in England have perhaps clouded my view of the reality for a year now.
Is he perhaps not quite so brilliant after all?

 

[TheSlicer]

To be honest, I'm very surprised that he's negative against Zverev and Sinner. With Novak and Nadal it's still okay somewhere.
But something is still stuck. The two Grass titles in England have perhaps clouded my view of the reality for a year now.
Is he perhaps not quite so brilliant after all?

Zverev beat him 2 times when he was still playing Challengers, and against sinner he won the most important match, those grass titles have clouded your view for good reason, you cant do that run at wimbledon playing like that and not be brilliant, that run at 20 years old is only reachable for just a few players in the history of the sport, he just has to figure things out, he has the goods to do anything, dont you worry about that

 

[socallefty]

Is he perhaps not quite so brilliant after all?

He is brilliant - the most exciting young player I’ve seen since a young Djokovic. But it is an arms race and if your key rivals are getting better and adding more shots to their repertoire, you have to up the ante also.

 

[GrandSlam24]

But if you don't count the titles in London, can you say that he has been playing below his potential for the last year or so? At a high level, of course, but still slightly below 2022? And how long can this continue without it being considered lost time?

 

[nolefam_2024]

But if you don't count the titles in London, can you say that he has been playing below his potential for the last year or so? At a high level, of course, but still slightly below 2022? And how long can this continue without it being considered lost time?

He hasn't been playing below his 2022 level.

In 2023 he went 1 step further at RG
4 steps further at Wimbledon and queens
Almost won Cincinnati
Played ATP finals

It's only because Novak came back last year that SOME may think he regressed. Otherwise he would win RG sure shot and maybe win Cincinnati as well giving him 2 slams 3 masters.

He won more pts and more win % last year as well.

Basically 2022 was sham results propped up by absence of Djokovic for most of the HC season. Most of the? Maybe all of the.

Djokovic and Raz played 1 same tournament iirc on hc in Paris Bercy. How hard was raz's real competition.

 

[The Blond Blur]

Shot tolerance and selection.

 

[ChaelAZ]

I have said in several threads now that he certainly has greater tennis minds guiding him, but I think they are trying a little to hard to temper his intuitive play with more percentage play. So taking away his court recognition to use drop shots and such for more neutral ball play and finding better opportunities for offense. Par of that is saving wear and tear on the body making those AMAZING defense to offense type plays. So to me, that kinda stepped him back in my eyes, but that is EXACTLY what Cahill did with Sinner starting in 2022 and you could see it starting to click by mid season last year, and in full force the end of the year. So will give Alcaraz through the middle of the year to see how things also click with him in the changes they are making. Alcz is only 20 and Sinner 22, so they are definitely using their rivalry and adjustments to each other to build those guys up.

 

[No_Kwan_Do]

Agree with a lot of points on here, namely shot tolerance and when to pull the trigger.

 

[GrandSlam24]

The most successful hard court player of all time only plays on grass and clay for a whole year or under one roof in Kazakhstan and Israel.
There was really only Dubai outside and Vesely was lurking there.

 

[McGradey]

First serve placement is the biggest thing that stands out as being noticeably average when I watch him. Eg. many of his T-serves appear to angle across the box and into the opponent's strike zone more than other guys who are able to consistently hit a straight and true stripe up the line.

Backhand: shot tolerance.

Broadly speaking I think he can make gains by playing more tidily and with more precision. He has the explosive power, it just needs a bit more harnessing and refinement.

And he hasn’t got a consistent solution on hard courts for dealing with guys that can take away his shot prep time.

 

[Jonesy]

Fire Ferrero. Hire Nadal.

 

[Voleathoney97]

Fire Ferrero.

 

[Tweener]

People forget what it means to be a 20 year old phenom, it takes time to build consistency and experience for sustained high level results across multiple surfaces against elite competition. Nadal was 19 when he won his first FO, but he didn't win his first major outside of Paris until he reached 23. Djokovic won his first AO at 20 and then didn't win another major until 3 years later (when he started winning a lot more). A large part of it is mental as well. Game wise, Alcaraz is elite. He can improve the serve and some other things, but the biggest issue holding him back lately has been between the ears. I think obsessing over the rivalry with Novak and trying to hold the #1 ranking hurt him a bit. Fed was what, 21/22 when he won his first major. Sinner 22.

The media hype and pressure that was put on him from 18 years old caught up with him. Now that Sinner is the new chosen one, I think Alcaraz will find renewed focus and motivation to play his game at his best and rise again. Up until 3 months ago, Sinner was a 21 year old underachiever who essentially flopped at the biggest tournaments and collected some ATP 250 titles. Carlos is already ahead of the curve.

 

[StrongRule]

People forget what it means to be a 20 year old phenom, it takes time to build consistency and experience for sustained high level results across multiple surfaces against elite competition. Nadal was 19 when he won his first FO, but he didn't win his first major outside of Paris until he reached 23. Djokovic won his first AO at 20 and then didn't win another major until 3 years later (when he started winning a lot more). A large part of it is mental as well. Game wise, Alcaraz is elite. He can improve the serve and some other things, but the biggest issue holding him back lately has been between the ears. I think obsessing over the rivalry with Novak and trying to hold the #1 ranking hurt him a bit. Fed was what, 21/22 when he won his first major. Sinner 22.

The media hype and pressure that was put on him from 18 years old caught up with him. Now that Sinner is the new chosen one, I think Alcaraz will find renewed focus and motivation to play his game at his best and rise again. Up until 3 months ago, Sinner was a 21 year old underachiever who essentially flopped at the biggest tournaments and collected some ATP 250 titles. Carlos is already ahead of the curve.

Difference is, their competition back then was not one 36 years old opponent.

 

[Tweener]

Difference is, their competition back then was not one 36 years old opponent.

There are 9 individuals who have managed to beat Carlos in the past year. At majors, he's lost to Novak, Daniil, and Zverev. Let's look at Nadal's 2007 season. He lost to Gonzalez at the AO, Federer at W, and Ferrer at USO. Losing to Novak for Carlos and Fed for Rafa are a wash. So you're telling me Gonzalez and Ferrer are better competition than Daniil and Zverev?

 

[nolefam_2024]

There are 9 individuals who have managed to beat Carlos in the past year. At majors, he's lost to Novak, Daniil, and Zverev. Let's look at Nadal's 2007 season. He lost to Gonzalez at the AO, Federer at W, and Ferrer at USO. Losing to Novak for Carlos and Fed for Rafa are a wash. So you're telling me Gonzalez and Ferrer are better competition than Daniil and Zverev?

Exactly

 

[Vincent-C]

Grow 4".

 

[dking68]

He hasn't been playing below his 2022 level.

In 2023 he went 1 step further at RG
4 steps further at Wimbledon and queens
Almost won Cincinnati
Played ATP finals

It's only because Novak came back last year that SOME may think he regressed. Otherwise he would win RG sure shot and maybe win Cincinnati as well giving him 2 slams 3 masters.

He won more pts and more win % last year as well.

Basically 2022 was sham results propped up by absence of Djokovic for most of the HC season. Most of the? Maybe all of the.

Djokovic and Raz played 1 same tournament iirc on hc in Paris Bercy. How hard was raz's real competition.

Predict Sinners win percentage this year. Last year it was 81%. What you think it will be this year?

 

[socallefty]

Predict Sinners win percentage this year. Last year it was 81%. What you think it will be this year?

Go post on another thread about Sinner. There is something pathological about your obsession with Sinner. This is a thread about Alcaraz.

 

[nolefam_2024]

Predict Sinners win percentage this year. Last year it was 81%. What you think it will be this year?

Over 80%

 

[dking68]

Go post on another thread about Sinner.

Weren’t you one of those that constantly doubted the Italian?

 

[dking68]

Over 80%

Over 85%?

 

[nolefam_2024]

Over 85%?

May be
Let's see

 

[Kralingen]

Lots of things, sadly.

 

[nolefam_2024]

Lots of things, sadly.

Fire his pr team

 

[jl809]

Apart from the Wimbledon final and that time he became a drop shot god for 2 weeks on clay in early 2023, he seems thick as **** on court. No clear plan, hilarious shot selection, just vibes

 

[dking68]

Lots of things, sadly.

should I put money on sinner for the Sunshine double? I can’t see who’s going to defeat him

 

[Vincent-C]

should I put money on sinner for the Sunshine double? I can’t see who’s going to defeat him

It's a decent+ call.

 

[Vincent-C]

Lots of things, sadly.

I'm a little curious about the trajectory of his 2024.

 

[Shaolin]

Pepe Imaz.

 

[dking68]

I'm a little curious about the trajectory of his 2024.

I think he’s suffering from early success syndrome.

Aka - Michael Chang, Lleyton Hewitt

 

[Vincent-C]

Alkaraz needs to routine some good players right now, and on a regular basis.
Maybe he'll do it; if he doesn't, there will be an unwanted, large monkey on his back at the back end of big tourneys.

That high profile, straight-sets loss to Safiullin in particular did not help the "aura".

 

[dking68]

Alkaraz needs to routine some good players right now, and on a regular basis.
Maybe he'll do it; if he doesn't, there will be an unwanted, large monkey on his back at the back end of big tourneys.

That high profile, straight-sets loss to Safiullin in particular did not help the "aura".

predict his results for the sunshine double

 

[Vincent-C]

predict his results for the sunshine double

nope.

 

[McGradey]

Alkaraz needs to routine some good players right now, and on a regular basis.

I think his less clearly defined playstyle is part of why his results can oscillate more than they maybe should for a player of his calibre.

It’s like he has too many options for how to play, so he struggles to settle into reliable patterns and strategies.

Djokovic has the ‘ball machine’ capability which he can always fall back on when other things in his game aren’t working.

Nadal has the infamous ‘backhand bulldozer’ which is proven consistently successful against 99% of guys.

And Federer was going to use his all court game to cut you to pieces, critical factor being his brilliant serve.

Alcaraz is clearly still developing his ‘bread and butter’ game, to my eyes. And if he is to become a day in, day out all-courter, the serve is probably where he needs to improve the most.

 

[beltsman]

Learning how to control points and matches.

 

[Kralingen]

should I put money on sinner for the Sunshine double? I can’t see who’s going to defeat him

Chill bro let’s just enjoy the slam for at least a week

 

[dking68]

Chill bro let’s just enjoy the slam for at least a week

I agree I’m just keeping my bets for the majors

 

[messiahrobins]

Professionalism. Sport is about winning, not entertaining unless he wants to be the new bahrami.
Talking about a final v djokovic when he has just won his 2nd round is disrespectful to the entire tour.
He is at a crossroads in his career. He eitber knuckes down and becomes professional and wins many slams or he ends up a bit like Kyrgios. And henman has aoready raised the kyrgios comparison abour the lack of tennis iq

 

[messiahrobins]

I think his less clearly defined playstyle is part of why his results can oscillate more than they maybe should for a player of his calibre.

It’s like he has too many options for how to play, so he struggles to settle into reliable patterns and strategies.

Djokovic has the ‘ball machine’ capability which he can always fall back on when other things in his game aren’t working.

Nadal has the infamous ‘backhand bulldozer’ which is proven consistently successful against 99% of guys.

And Federer was going to use his all court game to cut you to pieces, critical factor being his brilliant serve.

Alcaraz is clearly still developing his ‘bread and butter’ game, to my eyes. And if he is to become a day in, day out all-courter, the serve is probably where he needs to improve the most.

He has a great serve but seems to not have a clue how to use it.

 

[Vincent-C]

Professionalism. Sport is about winning, not entertaining unless he wants to be the new bahrami.
Talking about a final v djokovic when he has just won his 2nd round is disrespectful to the entire tour.
He is at a crossroads in his career. He eitber knuckes down and becomes professional and wins many slams or he ends up a bit like Kyrgios. And henman has aoready raised the kyrgios comparison abour the lack of tennis iq

I don't think he's at a crossroads just yet, but your points are well taken.
Quieting down and just winning would seem a wise approach for now.
I will follow that player's 2024 with interest.

 

[messiahrobins]

I don't think he's at a crossroads just yet, but your points are well taken.
Quieting down and just winning would seem a wise approach for now.
I will follow that player's 2024 with interest.

Indian wells is big for him. Really big. Dont want to see him smiling once during a match. Get the poker face back.

 

[ChaelAZ]

Professionalism. Sport is about winning, not entertaining unless he wants to be the new bahrami.
Talking about a final v djokovic when he has just won his 2nd round is disrespectful to the entire tour.
He is at a crossroads in his career. He eitber knuckes down and becomes professional and wins many slams or he ends up a bit like Kyrgios. And henman has aoready raised the kyrgios comparison abour the lack of tennis iq

He was asked about Djo, so not sure what you are on about there. And he is already well above Kyrgios and has working professionalism, not to mention accomplishments and respect.

 

[The_Order]

Mainly point construction IMO. His shot selection is a bit weird at times and he can become predictable with his dropshots. Probably the serve too, as you said

Agree. He seems a little impatient and wants to end points at the wrong times.

 

[FeroBango]

Zverev beat him 2 times when he was still playing Challengers, and against sinner he won the most important match, those grass titles have clouded your view for good reason, you cant do that run at wimbledon playing like that and not be brilliant, that run at 20 years old is only reachable for just a few players in the history of the sport, he just has to figure things out, he has the goods to do anything, dont you worry about that

Why give context and nuance to this? That overrated mug fluked the grass swing obviously.