These are the keys to Alcaraz's leap in quality in 2026

Diego Jiménez Rubio | 28 Feb 2026 | 18.04

Carlos Alcaraz, keys to his improvement. Photo: gettyimages

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If perfection in tennis exists, it must be very similar to what Carlos Alcaraz is showing in this new season. The young Spaniard has won all 12 matches played, only dropping six sets and showcasing tactical changes in his game that have led to this leap in quality. Let's take a closer look to decipher what explains the improvement of the world number 1 in 2026.

Mastering the tennis world can become anecdotal without a mentality like Carlos Alcaraz's. The Murcian has been fully aware since the beginning of his professional career that reaching the top is difficult, but even more challenging is staying there. To achieve this, it is crucial to make changes in his game, step out of his comfort zone, and push himself to the limit.

Ending 2025 with two Grand Slam titles and the world number 1 ranking would lead many to relax and feel self-satisfied, but for the Spaniard, it has been a fuel to seek aspects to improve in his tennis. This seems to be reflected in the 12 matches he has played so far this year. Not only has he won them all, claiming two titles, but he has also conveyed a sense of dominance and consistency in all aspects of his game.

The new service mechanics are working

One of the most significant news during the Murcian's preseason was the evident changes in his service motion, very similar to Djokovic's, which seem to have granted him much greater confidence. Carlos has always been aware that the serve is not a stroke that naturally shines for him, and his height, slightly below that of most of his opponents, poses as a limiting factor that can only be corrected through hard work.

The numbers don't lie. In these 12 matches, Alcaraz increased his career averages, showing a higher percentage of first services in, winning more points on his first and second serves, increasing his average of aces, and raising his service games win rate by over 6%, reaching 90.8%. These figures make him an almost unassailable player, especially when combined with other facets of his game.

The backhand and its effectiveness on returns have also improved significantly

Focusing on what happened in Doha last year, where he was eliminated in the quarterfinals, and comparing it with his performance in this edition, where he clinched the title, it's evident how Carlos Alcaraz has noticeably improved his numbers in almost all aspects of the game. The most significant improvements are seen in the backhand (from 7.8 to 8.8 in shot quality) and the return (from 7.4 to 8.3). It's remarkable to note that historically, these three game scenarios have been where the Murcian had the most room for improvement.

Proof of his greatness is that, at only 23 years old, he is turning his "weak points," if they can be called that, into real strengths. It's a clear demonstration of the work ethic and daily effort that Carlos Alcaraz possesses and how his team, now led by Samuel López, is skillfully refining his tennis to transform him into a well-oiled machine. It will be interesting to see if this trend continues in the first Masters 1000 events of the season.

Data source: Insights, by TennisViz

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Estas son las claves del salto de calidad de Alcaraz en 2026

Carlos Alcaraz