We are unfair to Carlos Alcaraz

I understand that people who are fans of Carlos Alcaraz and who love him (not talking about those who take every chance to throw their hatred at him) are demanding with him and want him to play the best possible, win all he can, and do well. This often leads to being too unfair to the boy. And the one writing to you also includes himself in that, don't doubt it. What happened this week at the Monte Carlo ATP is something that should make us all reflect and change - and improve - our way of looking at things regarding Alcaraz.

The young man from Murcia arrived in Monte Carlo eager to reverse the situation he was facing. Strange defeat in Indian Wells and a somewhat ugly one in Miami. The criticisms came. He, after talking with his team, decided he needed some time off to disconnect. Instead of returning to Spain and preparing his introduction to clay with more time, he agreed to take a week off in Miami and Mexico, along with his friends and family. Working on his mind, rather than adding more minutes on the court. 

This was frowned upon by some of his fans, who didn't understand why he didn't start training after the two consecutive defeats he had. Alcaraz simply needed to catch his breath. A bit of rest and disconnection to feel like himself again. He went with his entire family to Mexico, by boat, thinking only of being Carlos Alcaraz Jr., not Carlos Alcaraz the tennis player. Working on the mind is as important as working on the physical or tennis skills. The facts speak for themselves.

The situation is that, on Wednesday, April 9th, on his debut day in Monte Carlo, Carlitos stepped onto the court a bit unfocused against Cerúndolo. His forehand was off. His serve, too. In barely half an hour, the Argentine took the first set by 6-3, which led to the despair of those same fans who already disapproved of his vacation the previous week, and they exploded.

We, who were live on YouTube, were asking for calm and assuring that he would surely turn it around, but the comments kept coming. One of them said that Alcaraz should quit tennis for the rest of 2025 to think if he really wanted to be a tennis player. Another comment referred to the bad tennis moment and said he was incapable of beating anyone in the Top 200. Someone else said he wouldn't win anything this year. And, of course, there had to be the comment that he needed to fire his entire technical team and that none of them were up to par.

Not only did he come back in that match against Fran, but he also came back in other matches against Fils or Musetti to win the title. Every time Alcaraz started cold or lost the first set, Twitter and the YouTube chat were filled with people wanting to see everything burn. And all of this, so that the young man from Murcia ended up winning the title on Sunday, showing everyone that a little patience is needed and not to speak out prematurely.

Carlos is treated too unfairly. Imagine what it must be like to be in his shoes. He's still 21 years old, and he's handling the pressure placed on him by an entire country eager to find a successor after Nadal's farewell. We are all very spoiled because of Rafa. People saw the Mallorcan overpowering his opponents 6-2 6-1 on clay, and how he would go to the gym at seven in the morning the day after winning an M1000 or Roland Garros. They think that's the only way to work and be the best, but they are mistaken.

Alcaraz is Alcaraz. He's not Nadal and will never be. He is who he is. In good and in bad. We shouldn't expect him to win as dominantly as Rafa did, or to work as many hours as the one from Manacor did because each person is different, and what works for one doesn't work for another. We shouldn't criticize him (in a negative way) when he loses a set, as if losing a set was the end of the world. I'm not saying he shouldn't be told when he's not doing well or during several bad months. Obviously, things need to be commented on when they happen, I'm just talking about putting things into perspective.

I'm trying to defend Carlos.

What he said after winning in Monte Carlo, that he has experienced a difficult off-court situation in the last month, is proof that we need to give him time and space.

He's only 21. Imagine what he must bear on his shoulders… pic.twitter.com/cphFgZnXW8

— José Morón (@jmgmoron) April 13, 2025

Because he is still very young. Because at 21, all of us were very immature, and surely in his situation, we would handle everything much worse than he does. If he doesn't win as comfortably as Rafa did, he's still just as valid and capable, and hopefully, those critical comments for losing a set or several tournaments turn into support. Because a true fan of Alcaraz should support him in the good times, but especially in the bad times when he will need it most. If he needs to spend a week with his family before a tour, it's because he needs it and it's good for him and his mind. No one should judge him for wanting to be alone with his family for a few days.

And in all of this, I know that sometimes I too may have grown impatient seeing him hesitate on the court on several occasions. I might have been unfair to him and asked for more than we could demand. Sometimes we forget that he's only 21 and needs time. Carlos Alcaraz can't be like anyone else, and if he wins matches struggling more or goes through several months without victories, we have to show him that we are still there, by his side, enjoying our Sunday afternoons with his triumphs and raising Spain back to the tennis level it should be. Because, without Alcaraz, we would sorely miss having someone like him.
 

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Somos injustos con Carlos Alcaraz