They point out that Alcaraz could have an advantage over his main rivals as the end of the season approaches

Carlos Alcaraz arrives eager for this final part of the season. The player from Murcia, who historically has not performed well in the late season tours, showed better numbers last year compared to previous ones, although he is still far behind other rivals on indoor courts. This year, however, things may be quite different for him, and it is suggested that he could have an advantage over Sinner or Zverev.

The British analyst, Annabel Croft, believes that, at this point in the calendar, Alcaraz's situation is very different from what is typically seen among the top players on the circuit. While many tennis players reach the decisive stretch of the year trying to accumulate the last possible points to improve their ranking or qualify for the big end-of-season events, physical and mental fatigue usually begins to take its toll.

Carlos Alcaraz could arrive with an advantage over Sinner or Zverev

Croft explained on Sky Sport that it is common for many players to arrive at these months practically at their limit after an extremely demanding season. It's not just about the physical effort accumulated during tournaments, travel, and training, but also all the emotional energy consumed during many months of competition.

However, she understands that Alcaraz's case may be different. His time away from the courts due to wrist problems, although it represented a significant setback, may have allowed him to accumulate a considerable amount of energy and return with greater freshness to tackle this part of the season.

“Normally, at this stage of the season, many players are trying to secure those extra points to improve their ranking while thinking about next year or also seeking qualification for the end-of-season tournaments. But many are exhausted after all the emotional and physical wear of the year. Alcaraz, on the other hand, will arrive very fresh,” explained Croft.

This circumstance could prove particularly important if the player from Murcia manages to maintain his level over the coming weeks.

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“He can win points in many different ways”

Aside from his physical state, Croft also wanted to highlight the enormous variety of resources that Alcaraz is once again displaying on the court. The analyst noted that the Spaniard had to overcome quite a demanding test in his debut in Tokyo against a dangerous opponent, especially because of his serve, his backhand, and his ability to constantly seek offensive situations near the net.

Nevertheless, Alcaraz ended up finding solutions thanks to one of the aspects that most differentiates his tennis: the vast number of alternatives he can use during the same match.

“Alcaraz has a multitude of shots at his disposal. He can constantly choose, change pace, suddenly accelerate, and adapt to what happens on the court. He has so many different ways to win a point that he always ends up finding solutions,” explained the former tennis player.

Precisely that ability to modify matches on the fly has been one of the main characteristics of Alcaraz's game since his emergence in the elite. He can go from defending several meters behind the baseline to attacking the net, using drop shots, or suddenly increasing the speed of his strokes. This range of possibilities constantly forces opponents to face different scenarios.

Alcaraz enjoys playing on the court again

Croft also emphasized a less technical aspect and much more related to the Spaniard's feelings: the joy with which he is returning to compete. According to the Sky Sport analyst, Alcaraz significantly raised his level during the last set of his match and showed again that energy that has historically accompanied his tennis.

“In the last set, he managed to completely organize his game and once again conveyed that joy. Before the break due to his wrist problem, he had already mentioned that he wanted to enjoy himself more on the court. I believe we are clearly seeing that now. His tennis is offering really good sensations,” Croft asserted.

That emotional component can be particularly significant in understanding the current moment of the player from Murcia. Alcaraz has always associated his best tennis with the ability to have fun during matches, play freely, and find different solutions without feeling constrained by the scoreline. After the difficulties caused by his wrist injury, his return seems to be sending positive signals from both a tennis and mental perspective.

The combination of physical freshness, variety of resources, and confidence could now become one of Alcaraz's great assets for facing the final stretch of the season. With a Zverev fully propelled by the number 1 ranking and more motivated than ever, and a Sinner from whom we expect a hungry comeback after injury, Alcaraz may have that extra advantage regarding the rest he has in his body and the form he has been able to accumulate over the last month, now fully immersed in the circuit.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Apuntan que Alcaraz podría tener una ventaja respecto a sus mayores rivales de cara al final de temporada