Carlos Alcaraz’s Intensive Preparation for Paris Masters: Early Arrival and Hard Training in Murcia
Carlos Alcaraz, the 22-year-old world No. 1 and six-time Grand Slam champion, is intensifying his preparations for the 2025 Rolex Paris Masters (October 27-November 2) by training rigorously in his hometown of Murcia, Spain, and planning to arrive in Paris on Thursday, October 24—four days before his first-round match. This proactive approach marks a departure from his usual last-minute arrivals, reflecting a deliberate effort to adapt to the indoor hard courts where he has a dismal 3-4 record and no quarterfinal appearances in three prior attempts. Alcaraz, who skipped Shanghai due to an ankle sprain sustained in Tokyo (which he still won), is focusing on recovery and acclimatization at the new Paris La Défense Arena venue, aiming to conquer his “kryptonite” tournament and secure a career Grand Slam of Masters 1000 titles (he still needs Paris, Indian Wells, and Cincinnati).
Alcaraz’s Current Training Focus and Schedule
Alcaraz’s week in Murcia has been grueling, emphasizing serve efficiency, movement drills, and tactical adjustments for indoor conditions, under the guidance of coach Juan Carlos Ferrero and physio Juanjo Moreno. “We’re working hard on everything—the serve needs to be a weapon indoors, and the ankle’s 100%,” Alcaraz told Marca on October 22. A photo shared on his Instagram of him drilling forehands with Ferrero garnered 1.5 million likes, captioned “Ready for Paris 💪.”
– **Arrival in Paris**: October 24 (Thursday), allowing practice sessions on the arena’s courts starting October 25. This early buffer addresses past issues like the 2024 “late arrival” that contributed to his 6-4, 6-3 loss to Humbert in the R32.
– **First Match**: Tuesday, October 28 or Wednesday, October 29 (bye for top seed), vs. qualifier Ryan Peniston. A straight-sets win earns 45 points; quarterfinals add 180, up to 1,000 for the title.
Alcaraz enters with no points to defend (best: 2022 QF), but a deep run boosts his year-end No. 1 lock and 2026 AO seeding. “Paris has been my worst Masters—time to change that,” he said.
#### The Paris Masters Challenge: Conquering His Weak Spot
Alcaraz’s Paris record is a glaring outlier in his 67-7 2025 season (88% win rate, eight titles):
– **2022**: R64 loss to Frances Tiafoe (6-4, 4-6, 7-6(7-2)).
– **2023**: R64 loss to Ugo Humbert (6-7(4-7), 6-3, 6-4).
– **2024**: R32 loss to Humbert again (6-4, 3-6, 6-3).
The indoor hard courts’ faster pace and lower bounce contrast his clay/grass strengths (two French Opens, two Wimbledons). “Indoor’s tricky—less time, more power,” Alcaraz noted. The new arena, capacity 40,000, adds pressure, but his early arrival allows adaptation, similar to his 2025 Tokyo prep that yielded a title despite the ankle twist.
Ferrero: “Carlos is proactive—practice will fix the indoor gremlins. Quarters minimum.” A semifinal (360 points) strengthens his AO buffer; the title (1,000 points) cements No. 1.
Alcaraz’s 2025: Dominance with a Paris Fix
Alcaraz’s year: 67 wins, eight titles, provisional year-end No. 1. Skipping Shanghai (ankle) and Vienna/Basel (rest) reflects caution, but Paris is the test. “Something new—early and ready,” he said. With Sinner (No. 2) in Basel and Djokovic (No. 3) confirmed, Alcaraz’s path includes possible R3 vs. Tommy Paul and QF vs. Andrey Rublev.
Fans on X under #AlcarazParis: “Early arrival? Smart—Carlitos conquering kryptonite!” (150k likes). As Paris beckons, Alcaraz’s hard practice isn’t just sweat—it’s strategy. The Demon’s unbreakable; the courts await.
