Andy Roddick issues assessment of Carlos Alcaraz’s ‘inconsistent’ start to season after Miami exit

Carlos Alcaraz has so far won just the Rotterdam Open this season and recently fell in his first match of the Miami Open.

Andy Roddick issues assessment of Carlos Alcaraz’s ‘inconsistent’ start to season after Miami exit

Carlos Alcaraz, Andy Roddick (Image via X/TRT Spor Yildiz, ESPN)

Carlos Alcaraz lifted four titles last year, two of which were Wimbledon and the French Open. The rest two he bagged at Indian Wells and the China Open. He came close to win his first Olympic gold medal in Paris but he fell in straight sets to Novak Djokovic in the final.

The conclusion that can be drawn from his last season is that he was inconsistent throughout the year. This year, it was no different; for Alcaraz has so far claimed one title, at the Rotterdam Open.

He was bidding to complete a three-peat at Indian Wells but eventual winner Jack Draper beat him in the semifinals. In Miami then, Alcaraz shockingly got ousted from the tournament after defeat to veteran David Goffin in his first match. Andy Roddick, during the latest episode of his Served podcast, analyzed Alcaraz’s start to the season.

The first-round loss (in Miami) was bad, but what I want to see from Carlos, and you won’t find a bigger fan than me, he’s my favorite player to watch, his inconsistency sometimes almost makes him relatable, and you can see him churning the wheels of decision-making in real-time.

Andy Roddick said on Served with Andy Roddick podcast

Roddick said Alcaraz likes to be the one that dictates, which is his “superpower“. But as per the 2003 US Open champion, this superpower can also be a “weakness” if Alcaraz doesn’t use it at the right moment.

Right now…when he’s not feeling perfect, it almost feels like he gets more aggressive, and I almost want him to go into a match and say, ‘Okay, for the first six games, I’m literally going to take this person’s legs out and my ball is heavier than theirs. They’re going to have to hit winners for six games.

Andy Roddick added

Daniil Medvedev’s ex-coach blasts critics over ‘unfair’ criticism of Carlos Alcaraz

Gilles Simon, the former coach of Daniil Medvedev, is not concerned about Carlos Alcaraz‘s form. He pointed out how Alcaraz’s achievements, which include his four Grand Slam titles, often make the critics forget that he is just 21.

Carlos Alcaraz (5)
Carlos Alcaraz (Image via X/Tennis Panorama News)

He is a player where we know what he has in the racket, we know what he is able to do. Everybody in the end likes him and when he’s not winning, we are disappointed and we put it on him – and I think it’s unfair.

Gilles Simon told Tennis365

Simon wants the critics to look at the “big picture“. He is convinced that though Alcaraz succumbed to a defeat in his Miami Open first match, he will find a way and could once again complete the rare Channel Slam.

Alcaraz has so far played five tournaments this season. He will next participate at the Monte Carlo Masters, the first clay-court ATP Masters 1000 of the season.

Mats Wilander claims Carlos Alcaraz will be inconsistent throughout his career

Mats Wilander believes Carlos Alcaraz has the ability to pull off some miracles but at times, he is going to be inconsistent. The Swede, who thinks it was “weird” the way Alcaraz was defeated by Jack Draper in the Indian Wells semifinals, said the 21-year-old is a player who can bounce back within a couple of weeks.

Carlos Alcaraz (ATP/X)
Carlos Alcaraz (ATP/X)

I think Carlos Alcaraz is going through what Carlos Alcaraz will be going through for the rest of his career, which is that there are going to be inconsistencies.

Mats Wilander told TNT Sports

Wilander, however, backed Alcaraz to defend the French Open as he believes Alcaraz is often inconsistent in regular tournaments and not in the Grand Slam ones. Last year, Alcaraz overcame World No.2 Alexander Zverev to claim his first title at Roland Garros.