Alcaraz reveals the key to his great moment: "Now I control my emotions better than before"
Carlos Alcaraz lands in Indian Wells in search of his third crown and with the feeling of having taken a step forward in his maturity on the court.
Carlos Alcaraz lands in Indian Wells with good feelings and a streak of results that confirms his great start to the season. During the Media Day of the Californian tournament, the player from Murcia talked about his preparation in the desert, the situation of the players trapped in Dubai due to the conflict in the Middle East, and analyzed some aspects of his evolution as a player.
Alcaraz arrives at the first Masters 1000 of the year with a full streak of victories in 2026 and with the goal of continuing to extend a streak that already reaches 12 consecutive wins. "It's going really well, to be honest," the Spaniard explained about his adaptation to the desert. "I feel a bit different compared to other years, but I've had a couple of good practices. I'm back and ready, so it's been good, and I'm excited to start," he commented.
Alcaraz values his great start to the year
The Spaniard was asked about his spectacular start to the season, with 12 consecutive victories. A record that inevitably invites comparisons with the great historical streaks on the circuit, such as the 41 consecutive wins achieved by Novak Djokovic at the beginning of 2011. "You don't realize how difficult it is until you start chasing something like that. You think that 41 isn't much, but when you reach 12, you say: 'wow, there are still four or five more tournaments, the biggest tournaments in the world.' I'm really proud of my start to the year. Hopefully, the streak continues, but I'm just happy to see myself playing great tennis."
Rafa Jódar, a talent that doesn't surprise him
During the press conference, the name of one of the great promises of Spanish tennis, Rafa Jodar, also came up. Alcaraz explained that he got to know him a few years ago as a sparring partner in the Davis Cup and that he has been following his evolution since then. "Off the court, he is a very nice guy and he respects everyone a lot, but when he steps on the court, he believes in himself and believes he can beat anyone. I'm not surprised at all by how well he's doing and how far he's come. I think we're going to see a lot more from Rafa in the coming years."
Vlogs and the players' more human side
Another interesting topic was the proliferation of documentaries and personal vlogs among players on the circuit. Alcaraz, who already starred in one of the most commented projects in this format, believes that these kinds of content help bring tennis closer to fans. "I think it's good. Why not get to know the players behind the scenes? It's interesting to understand a little more about how a player lives through each tournament and what their life is like."
In his case, he explained that his goal was to show his more personal side: "I wanted to show people how I live, how I feel, and how I approach everything in my life. Right now, I don't feel like a second part is necessary, but we'll see in the future."
Concern for the Middle East
One of the topics that marked the press conference was the situation of several players who are still trying to leave Dubai after the recent attacks in the region. "It was surprising because we were all playing there a few days or a week before, and suddenly, everything happens. Seeing some players trapped there, unable to travel, has been a bit worrying, at least for me."
Nevertheless, the player from Murcia explained that he tries to stay focused on the tournament: "I hope they can travel and come here soon. I don't know what the situation is right now, but we all hope it gets resolved. It's not a distraction for me; I just keep my focus and keep training as best as possible."
A calmer Alcaraz on the court
If there is one aspect that Alcaraz himself identifies as key to his current great moment, it is his emotional evolution on the court. "I think I now control my emotions even better than before. That has been the secret to the good level of tennis I have been showing lately. When I got angry or played badly, now I manage to find my way back because I am calm, I control myself, and manage my emotions."
A maturity that, combined with his form, once again places Alcaraz as one of the top contenders to conquer the title in Indian Wells and continue prolonging a perfect start to the season.
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Alcaraz revela la clave de su gran momento: “Ahora controlo mis emociones mejor que antes”