Carlos Alcaraz leaves tennis pros divided over weakness in his game

By celebrityinfo.online On Feb 26, 2025

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Carlos Alcaraz’s Loss in Doha Sparks Debate Among Tennis Stars

Carlos Alcaraz’s latest disappointing defeat in Doha has sparked debate among former tennis pros, with Steve Johnson and John Isner offering contrasting views on the 21-year-old’s game and mentality.

The world No. 3 led Jiri Lehecka in the final set of their quarterfinal clash, only to collapse late, losing four consecutive games to hand his opponent a 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 victory. The same pattern emerged earlier in the tournament, as Alcaraz dropped a set against Luca Nardi after leading, before recovering to win.

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While Alcaraz credited Lehecka’s resilience after the match, claiming, “Honestly, I don’t know what I could have done better. I have to give credit to him as well, because when he was down, especially in the third set, he didn’t give up,” former world No. 21 Steve Johnson wasn’t convinced.

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Johnson Questions Alcaraz’s Mentality

Johnson expressed concerns over Alcaraz’s inconsistencies, arguing that top players like the Big Three, Andy Murray, and Stan Wawrinka would have closed out such matches.

“We just haven’t seen that conviction from Alcaraz over the last couple of years,” Johnson said on the Nothing Major podcast.

Praising Alcaraz’s peak level but questioning his mental stability, Johnson added:

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“I believe his top-end tennis is better than anyone when he is playing his best, but his mid-range, every day, put on your hard hat and go to work can fluctuate from time to time.”

He pointed to the Lehecka loss as a prime example:

“He had a 4-2 lead in the third set, about to go up a double break, and then, seven and a half minutes later, he lost serve twice and the match was over. That’s something we haven’t seen from those top guys.”

Isner Defends Alcaraz’s Development

In contrast, John Isner believes these lapses are simply part of Alcaraz’s growth process and will improve with time.

“I don’t think this is what we are going to see for the next five to eight years. It’s easy to forget that he is still only 21 years old. His best tennis, you could argue, is still five years away.”

Isner acknowledged that inconsistencies will remain in the short term but expects Alcaraz to become more consistent as he matures.

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“It is crazy to think that he has not even come close to reaching his highest level as a tennis player. This year and maybe next, he might have some head-scratching losses, like the one against Lehecka, but I think he will fix that and be fine going forward.”

Alcaraz now turns his focus to Indian Wells, where he is the two-time defending champion and will look to regain his form on one of his favorite courts.

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