Carlos Alcaraz justifies his irregularity: "In Spain we have become accustomed to giants like Rafa"

Carlos Alcaraz is enjoying his best stretch of tennis since the summer of 2024. The young star from Murcia has returned to the elite level that fans have come to expect of him—right at a pivotal point in the season. After an early exit in the second round of the Miami Open, the transition to clay could not have come at a better time.

Just days ago, Alcaraz claimed the title at the Monte Carlo Masters 1000, a tournament where he had previously played only once—and lost. Now, he finds himself just one win away from securing a third title at the Barcelona Open, a competition that has been far kinder to him throughout his still-young career.

Following a dominant 6-2, 6-4 semifinal victory over Arthur Fils, Alcaraz addressed the criticism surrounding his recent inconsistency. “In Spain, we’ve had so many athletes at the top for so long that we've become accustomed to greatness,” he said. “We've grown up watching giants like Rafa. Here, one negative moment can outweigh ten positive ones.”

He also spoke about his mindset heading into matches—especially on Spanish soil and the Catalan clay, where he hasn’t lost since 2021, back when he was just 17 years old. “I’m still having just as much fun as the first time I won the Godó,” he said. “It’s even more exciting to play here after missing it last year.”

One key to his strong performance this week has been his improved serve. Alcaraz has not dropped a single set en route to the final. “I told my team after the match against Djere that I thought I’d finish the tournament without getting broken—but that didn’t happen,” he noted. “Still, after struggling in recent days, it gives me confidence. Having a little breathing room is important heading into the final against Rune.”

Looking ahead to the showdown with Holger Rune, Alcaraz emphasized his ambition and relentless drive to improve. “You can always get better,” he said. “You can always feel more comfortable on court and make better decisions. Right now, I feel I’m in a good place with my tennis—and I’m happy to be following this positive path.”