In his short yet fruitful professional career, Carlos Alcaraz has demonstrated an exceptional ability to learn, grow, adapt and recover.
Never have these qualities been on clearer display than in the past few weeks.
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Last month, he suffered a dispiriting loss to Novak Djokovic in the Roland Garros semifinals, one of the more highly-anticipated match-ups in recent memory, yet ending in anti-climactic fashion.
That was because Alcaraz’ body locked up with cramps early in the third set. Barely able to move, he put up little resistance as Djokovic went on to complete a 6-3 5-7 6-1 6-1 win.
Djokovic then went on to win a men's record 23rd Grand Slam singles title, and third in Paris.
Alcaraz admitted the cramps were brought on by the nervous tension he carried throughout the match. As admirably candid as ever, he revealed more on Friday at Wimbledon.
“In the semifinal at the French Open I didn't enjoy at all in the first set probably,” he said.
Yet the after-effects of that defeat have not seemed to linger. In fact, Alcaraz has not lost since.
He arrived at the Queen’s Club in London after a week off and won the title, in just his third ever grass-court tournament.
He studied how grass-court greats Roger Federer and Andy Murray moved on the surface, and tried to adapt his own footwork. He gained in confidence, and, coupled with his existing weapons, he has become an increasing force on grass.
“I have a lot of confidence right now coming into Wimbledon. I ended the week playing at the high level,” he said after his Queen’s triumph.
“The level that I played, I consider myself one of the favourites or one of the players to be able to win Wimbledon.”
Alcaraz is now one match away from doing so, having advanced to his first Wimbledon final. He has dropped just two of the 20 sets he has played this fortnight at the All England Club.
“(Grass) could become my best surface,” the reigning US Open champion smiled. “But I always like (to) play on grass. Probably after this year even more.”
Now on an 11-match winning streak, his results would indicate he has left behind the disappointment of what transpired in Paris.
Inevitably, however, he was reminded of it on Friday, when his semifinal victory set up a rematch with Djokovic in the title match.
Given the progress he has made in recent weeks, it was unsurprising to hear Alcaraz say he hoped this would extend to how he handles this next meeting with Djokovic, who is unbeaten at Slams in 2023.
“I try to get into the court with not as much nerves as I probably had in French Open, in the semifinal. I try to pull out all nerves, try to enjoy that moment,” said Alcaraz, who won their only other match at the 2022 Madrid Masters.
“Physically I'll do it the same, what I was doing before the matches. Probably in the mental part I will do something different, to stay calm, to show that I'm not nervous.
“I don't know what I'm going to do, but I'll do some (mental) exercise to stay calm and to forget, or I'll try to forget that I'm going to play a final against Novak.
“I hope not to get cramp during the final. I think I'll be better on Sunday.”