Alcaraz, the 'Marathon Man' of the circuit: this is the key to his success

Carlos Navarro | 4 Feb 2026 | 18.07

Alcaraz and his physique, a duo that has led him to conquer new heights. Source: Getty

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When Novak Djokovic dubbed Carlos Alcaraz as 'titanito' in one of their fun encounters, the Serbian fell short. He experienced this firsthand during the last 2026 Australian Open final. While Djokovic's physical condition began to decline and he needed to choose his battles wisely, the Spaniard withstood his onslaughts marvelously despite having played for over 5 hours and 25 minutes less than two days prior.

He is the new Marathon Man of the circuit. The man capable of enduring to exhaustion, of becoming an animal as the clock keeps ticking. How to explain the seven Grand Slams under Carlos's belt? Many focus on the explosive combinations he holds in his arsenal; on his creativity and unique variety on the circuit; on his constant evolution as a player, filling every gap with surgical precision... and, in the meantime, his physical abilities are overlooked, especially when they represent the essence and fundamental pillar of his tennis.

Statistics have traveled the world encapsulating Carlos's winning mentality. 12 victories and 1 loss when the clock surpasses 3 hours and 50 minutes: that is, a 92.3% victory rate when the match enters its cathartic stage, where tactics are neglected in favor of heart, grit, and endurance. Alcaraz not only possesses these virtues but also enhances them with superb tennis quality and a physique that allows him to push while his opponents wilt.

The case of Carlos Alcaraz is the clearest example of talent + hunger. He is not a dormant genius. Every day he wants to grow a little more. At all levels. And he is surrounded by the best professionals to achieve it.

This record below is achieved only by being very good at... pic.twitter.com/eCY6dBnAbM
— Germán R. Abril (@gerebit0) February 3, 2026

Alcaraz endures five sets like no other... and clearly outpaces his rival, Jannik Sinner: these are the stark figures

The data becomes significant when comparing his performance with Jannik Sinner, the Spanish's main rival. The Italian has yet to secure a single victory when the clock hits that mark, a small dark spot in his record that can be attributed to various reasons: lacking the explosiveness and ability to sustain continuous efforts over time like Alcaraz, lacking the versatility to find shortcuts to victory if his shots don't operate at their usual speed, and struggling to capitalize on pressure points in fifth sets, a discrepancy revealed in their respective matches against Djokovic in the past Australian Open.

Meanwhile, Alcaraz endures and endures, surpassing Nadal and Djokovic on their turf and is on the path to achieving historic records... thanks, above all, to his physique. A meticulously calibrated preparation to withstand loads and gauge the exact moment to give it his all: this aspect has been acquired over time and allowed him, for example, to handle the fourth set marvelously in his final against Nole.

It enabled him to overcome twists in the plot to ignite in the tiebreak of the Roland Garros final; it allowed him to withstand Djokovic's onslaughts as he served to be crowned champion at Wimbledon 2023, executing plays with effortless ease as if his legs hadn't endured four hours at the highest level. His physicality is the foundation that enables Alcaraz to unleash supersonic forehands, explosive quick responses, perfectly balanced drop shots, or net plays that he approaches with astonishing calmness: without his legs, this repertoire would revert to a tug of war with as many errors as successes.

This is an aspect deserving praise and will give Jannik Sinner food for thought, prompting him to make a move in the context of ruthless rivalry, where every move can carry immense historical weight. Meanwhile, Carlos, leaving behind his disconnects and having learned to win using his mind and tactics, has on his side a component as crucial as his shots or his mind. Will physicality and strategies continue to be the defining factors? Will the Italian manage to narrow the gap soon? It will be fascinating to track their progress in an aspect that could determine their places, once it all ends, in historical rankings.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Alcaraz, el "Marathon Man" del circuito: esta es la gran clave de su éxito