Carlos Alcaraz ‘tired mentally’ as he once again complains of burnout after ATP Finals defeat to Casper Ruud
Carlos Alcaraz once again censured the schedule after his lackluster performance in the first ATP Finals match he played against Casper Ruud.
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Carlos Alcaraz (Image via X)
Carlos Alcaraz suffered a shock defeat in his first group-stage match at the ATP Finals he played against Casper Ruud. He attempted a comeback after a 1-6 defeat in the first set, but his efforts went in vain as he eventually lost the match with a scoreline of 6-1, 7-5.
After the match, Alcaraz was made aware of Daniil Medvedev‘s criticism of the tennis schedule. Alcaraz, who has often this season criticized the congested calendar, agreed with Medvedev’s views as he admitted that he was completely burned out after continuous tournaments since the start of this season.
I dare say that every player is tired mentally. If someone says that he is fresh, he is lying (smiling). Some players deal with it better than others. I’m tired. I’m tired mentally. Obviously, a lot of matches, a really tight schedule, a really demanding year with not too many days off, not too many periods where you can rest, you could practice at home.
Carlos Alcaraz said at a press conference
During the Laver Cup, Alcaraz also said a packed schedule makes it difficult for players to stay motivated and even claimed the ATP may end up ‘killing’ the players.
Carlos Alcaraz suffered from stomach problems during his match against Casper Ruud
Apart from mental exhaustion, Carlos Alcaraz also struggled with the stomach issue as he admitted later that he wasn’t hundred percent fit during his clash with Ruud. Alcaraz was hopeful that, despite the sickness, he would play well, but it wasn’t the case as he wasn’t feeling ‘comfortable’ during the match, as it affected his rallies.
These are things I have to learn; we won’t feel good in every match we play in a year, but it has made it very difficult for me in rallies, in recovering between points, the issue of not being able to breathe well and feeling suffocated, that has limited me a lot.
Carlos Alcaraz said at a press conference
Alcaraz’s next opponent is Andrey Rublev, against whom the Spaniard is 1-1 in the head-to-head encounter. They last met in the quarterfinals of the Madrid Open, which Rublev won in three sets. After Rublev, Alcaraz will face two-time ATP Finals winner Alexander Zverev.
Alcaraz is bidding to win his first ATP Finals and is yet to reach the final of the year-end championships. Last year, he lost to eventual champion Novak Djokovic in the semifinals, while in 2022 he missed the event due to an injury.
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Gouri Das
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