Carlos Alcaraz Falls Short at Indian Wells, Struggles with Consistency
Carlos Alcaraz was unable to secure his third consecutive Indian Wells title, highlighting the persistent weaknesses that continue to challenge him. Despite an intense off-season with his team, the Spaniard’s 2025 campaign has been a mix of highs and lows.
The former world No. 1 kicked off his season at the Australian Open, reaching the quarterfinals before falling in four sets to Novak Djokovic—a match where many believed he could have done more.
In February, the 21-year-old from Murcia ended a four-month title drought by winning the Rotterdam ATP 500, despite struggling to find his best level throughout the tournament.
He then set his sights on the Doha ATP 500, hoping to capitalize on the absence of his biggest rival, Jannik Sinner. However, his run was cut short in the quarterfinals, where he suffered a collapse against Jiri Lehecka, losing four consecutive games in the deciding set after holding a break lead.
At Indian Wells, the season’s first Masters 1000, Alcaraz looked dominant until the semifinals, where he produced a disappointing performance against Jack Draper. The young Brit—who went on to win the tournament—took advantage of Alcaraz’s inconsistency to claim the biggest victory of his career so far.
Henman Still Backs Alcaraz to Surpass Sinner
Alcaraz’s lack of consistency remains a major concern, particularly as he aims to challenge Jannik Sinner for dominance on the ATP Tour. The Italian star has been nearly unstoppable over the past year, steadily closing the gap on Alcaraz in terms of Grand Slam and Masters 1000 titles, despite starting from behind.
However, despite Sinner’s rapid rise, British tennis legend Tim Henman remains convinced that Alcaraz will finish his career with more Major titles than the Italian.
To make that prediction a reality, Alcaraz will need to find greater stability in his performances—something that could determine his ability to reclaim the top spot in men’s tennis.
