Carlos Alcaraz Admits to Dealing with ‘Bad Thoughts’ Due to Fear of Crashing Out of US Open Early Rounds

Carlos Alcaraz is aiming to double his Grand Slam tally by winning at the US Open, where last year, he suffered a second-round exit.

Carlos Alcaraz Admits to Dealing with ‘Bad Thoughts’ Due to Fear of Crashing Out of US Open Early Rounds

Carlos Alcaraz (image via Instagram/Carlos Alcaraz)

It was in the second round last year that Carlos Alcaraz suffered a shocking upset, losing the match in straight sets to Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp. The fear of losing in the early rounds of the US Open still looms over the Spaniard.

In the first round of the ongoing US Open, Alcaraz couldn’t find his rhythm because of big-serving American Reilly Opelka, but somehow he ended the match in his favor in straight sets. In the second round, however, Alcaraz wasted not much time in eliminating Italy’s Mattia Bellucci in the second round, 6-1, 6-0, 6-3.

When I lost last year, to be honest, because it’s more recent. I have very good memories of when I won here. I saw some photos from 2022. I thought about last year when I entered the court. I had some bad thoughts. I was nervous, thinking that I didn’t want the same thing to happen as a year ago, when I lost in the second round. I just thought about it a little, but I’m very happy to have progressed and have another chance in the third round.

Carlos Alcaraz said at the press conference

In 2022, the 22-year-old took home his career’s first Grand Slam title by beating Casper Ruud. The second-round exit last year came following his opening-round defeat at the Cincinnati Masters, where Gael Monfils knocked him out in three sets. It was the first tournament he played after the Paris Olympics heartbreak. He had lost after tough straight sets to 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic.

Alcaraz clinched only the China Open last year in the tournaments that are held after Wimbledon, which only means he doesn’t have many points to defend, and so if his arch-rival Jannik Sinner doesn’t have a better campaign than him, he can reclaim his No.1 spot.

Carlos Alcaraz analyzes his match against Mattia Bellucci

Carlos Alcaraz took a 1-0 head-to-head over Mattia Bellucci. At the press conference later, he said he was satisfied with the way he performed.

Carlos Alcaraz
Carlos Alcaraz (Image via X/Carlos Alcaraz 4K)

Today I played a very solid match. I set some goals before the match, and I think I did pretty well. I need to improve on some things that I didn’t do as well as I wanted, but overall, I’m very happy. He didn’t play his best match, I know, but overall I’m happy to have moved on to the next round.

Alcaraz is chasing his seventh title of the season. The previous six titles he lifted at the Rotterdam Open, Monte Carlo Masters, Italian Open, French Open, Queen’s Club Championships, Wimbledon, and the Cincinnati Masters.

Three of these trophies he clinched by beating Jannik Sinner, including at the French Open. He arrived in New York after claiming the Cincinnati Masters, but the win came after receiving a walkover from Sinner, as he was ill.

Alcaraz’s next opponent is another Italian player. It’s Luciano Darderi, who overcame Eliot Spizzirri. The second seed will be locking horns with the 23-year-old for the first time in his career.

Alcaraz has reached the finals of every tournament since the Monte Carlo Masters, losing only the Barcelona Open and Wimbledon. He could schedule a clash with Sinner if they both reach the final. But before that, he would run into Novak Djokovic in the semifinals.

The Serb played the finals of the first three semifinals, but the results ended in disappointment. Alcaraz lost the last match he played against the 38-year-old (in the quarterfinals of this year’s Australian Open). Alcaraz has so far registered 56 wins this season (the most on the men’s tour).

Also read: Jannik Sinner Looks Back on ‘The’ Match that Revolutionized his Rivalry With Carlos Alcaraz