If Carlos Alcaraz has undertaken mental work with a psychologist, the young world number 1 also relies on high quality physical and technical bases. And the finished product may not have appeared for all to see yet.
The physical: growth not yet complete
The progress of the young Alcaraz has been dazzling in one area: his physique. Naturally quick and coordinated, the player from Murcia had to do a lot of work during the five weeks of the offseason at the end of 2021 to gain a few kilograms of muscle mass. At the beginning of 2022, at the Australian Open where he was defeated in the third round by the Italian Matteo Berrettini, spectators thus discovered a player in a tank top, showing off impressive biceps for his 18 years. Enough to fuel the debates on the resemblance to his compatriot Rafael Nadal. “Of these 75 kilos, almost 60% represent muscle massthen explained Alberto Lledó, his physical trainer, to the Spanish sports daily Brand. There is a part of genetics in his build, but 80% of it is due to work.
In addition to the hours spent in the weight room, the Spaniard has indeed had to follow a specific diet because his metabolism burns fat quickly, which makes it difficult to gain weight. His transformation earned him, in addition to his results, to be the youngest person in history to make the cover of the magazine Men’s Health Spain in February. If his ATP sheet still indicates 74 kilos for 1m83, “Carlitos” today points rather around 80 kilos, all without losing his velocity and his explosiveness. “The kid is growing and not only at the muscular level, at the bone level as well.explains Alberto Lledó. This process will continue until he turns 21.
The technique: “total” tennis
Difficult to find flaws in the Spaniard. Mentally, his precocity impresses. Physically, he seems indefatigable and is, for the moment, preserved from injuries. There remains the technical-tactical aspect. However, many observers see Carlos Alcaraz as a “total” tennis player. “He is a reflection of everything that can be done in modern tennis. On the one hand, he embodies Spanish values, with great solidity from the baseline, and on the other, he has a lot of offensive options in his game, with a lot of creativity and a very good hand. He is the archetype of the player who really has no limits. In any case, technically, it does not have one”, analyzes Patrick Mouratoglou, coach of Romania’s Simona Halep (former world number one, provisionally suspended for doping) and Dane Holger Rune (25th in the world, 19 years old) with the specialized site Tennis Majors.
Carlos Alcaraz seems to combine qualities specific to the three best players of all time. Like Roger Federer, the Spaniard is capable of being very aggressive, taking the ball early and projecting himself forward very quickly, while remaining creative. The cushioning is a shot that he masters to perfection and he does not hesitate to come and finish the points at the net or to serve and volley. In addition, his eye allows him to be an excellent counter-attacker and returner, like Novak Djokovic. His technique is stable and fluid enough to allow him to put a lot of spin on the ball, while remaining comfortable when the rallies get longer, like a certain Rafael Nadal.