Jim Courier Unconvinced About Carlos Alcaraz’s Performance After a Four-Set Nervy Win at Roland Garros

Carlos Alcaraz battles hard to beat Bosnian star Damir Džumhur in four sets to reach the fourth round of the French Open.

Jim Courier Unconvinced About Carlos Alcaraz’s Performance After a Four-Set Nervy Win at Roland Garros

Carlos Alcaraz and Jim Courier (via X/Carlos Alcaraz4K/Djokovicfan)

Carlos Alcaraz was forced to fight for his place in the fourth round of the French Open with a testing win over a dogged Damir Dzumhur. The match was expected to be an easy one, but a couple of unforced errors saw Alcaraz struggle in the match. Tennis legend Jim Courier was not pleased with his performance at the end of the tie.

Alcaraz looked to make light work of his Bosnian opponent after winning the first set in thirty minutes. In fact, Dzumhur was looking exasperated at times as he struggled to find a connection with his game and contain the aggressive style of Alcaraz. The second set followed in much the same fashion as the first.

The 33-year-old lacked the weapon to cause Alcaraz any real concern as he only managed to break the Spaniard in the sixth game of the second set. But in the third, errors started to creep into Alcaraz’s game, leaving Dzumhur to find his right gear as the match carried on. The Spaniard hit 44 unforced errors in the match; half of them were in the third set.

Alcaraz looked almost lost in the fourth set when Dzumhur continued with his display and led 3-1, but after a brief pause to receive treatment on his knee, the World No.2 wasted no time to find his way back into the match. He won four successive games to turn the match around and lead 5-3.

Nonetheless, he was broken back when serving for the match, but he responded in kind to seal the win 6-1, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 in three hours and 14 minutes. After the match, Jim Courier was not pleased with how Alcaraz let a couple of unforced errors cost him a smooth straight set victory. He revealed on TNT Sports that players like Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer wouldn’t have allowed that to happen.

I could not be more torn about it...It is something unique that he brings to the court and his unbelievably aggressive mindset is so different to the Spanish mentality, which is concentrated and percentage tennis. But the other part of me which wants to see him challenge the all-time records thinks if he could just do a little bit less of that and still do it at the right time when you have scoreboard lead, maybe in 15 years time we are going to be looking at you and Novak and Rafa and Roger and having a comparison. I’m torn.

Alcaraz has already dropped two sets at the tournament despite having one of the easiest draws. The Spaniard is meant to conserve his energy for the final stages of the Roland Garros rather than using it against players he could comfortably beat.

Carlos Alcaraz said he suffered to beat Damir Dzumhur at the Roland Garros

On several occasions this season, Carlos Alcaraz has lost matches that he started well. One of them was against David Goffin in the second round of the Miami Open, where he won the first set but lost his concentration, ultimately losing the match. Against Damir Dzumhur at the French Open, he survived but revealed that he suffered to earn the win.

Carlos Alcaraz, Damir Dzumhur
Carlos Alcaraz, Damir Dzumhur (Image via X/Carlos Alcaraz 4K, The Tennis Letter)
I didn't enjoy it too much. I suffered quite a lot but I'm happy to have played a good match with Damir. That's why it's difficult to win Grand Slams because you have to maintain your focus over three or four hours. The first two sets were under control and then he decided to play deeper and more aggressive. My energy went down and it was hard to push, but I had to give everything I had inside. I'm proud to get the win in the end.

Alcaraz will face Ben Shelton in the fourth round after the American beat Italy’s Matteo Gigante in straight sets. They have faced each other twice in their careers, with Alcaraz winning both. They last met at the 2024 Laver Cup, which the Spaniard won in straight sets.

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