Carlos Alcaraz has had an incredible 2024, yet he emphasizes that only one player deserves the title of the best in men’s tennis this year.
The 21-year-old Spaniard clinched both the French Open and Wimbledon titles during the European summer, solidifying his place as one of the new titans of the sport. Despite his impressive achievements, Alcaraz insists that the spotlight should shine on his formidable rival, Jannik Sinner, even though he has triumphed in all three encounters against the Italian.
As he prepares for the final ATP Masters 1000 event of the season in Paris, Alcaraz acknowledged Sinner’s remarkable progress over the past year, stating, “It doesn’t matter that I have beaten Jannik three times.” He continued, “Probably I didn’t play good tennis in some tournaments. You know, my percentage of wins this year is really, really high, but Jannik is at another level this year. He has over 91 percent of wins this year. Just a few players have done this before.”
Alcaraz further noted the importance of consistency for all players: “I think every player is looking to be more consistent throughout the year. In every tournament, you want to go as far as possible. That’s my goal for next year. In the tournaments where I didn’t perform well, I’ll aim to improve and avoid early exits, which has happened to me this year.”
Reflecting on his performance in the latter stages of the grueling tennis season, Alcaraz shared insights into why he feels more invigorated this time around. “Well, just understanding that the season keeps going is key,” he explained. “After the long stretches—like my last swing, where I was away from home for a month and a half—I knew important tournaments were still ahead, and I wanted to compete well.”
He added, “The main focus is on my goals for the end of the year. I want to finish second in the rankings, which means I need to play strong tennis and stay mentally fresh for the final tournaments.”
Alcaraz candidly reflected on his past struggles in Paris, admitting, “I haven’t played well here before. By the end of the year, I’ve often felt fatigued, and as I mentioned last year, I had to learn that the season continues past September. This year, I believe I’ve prepared better. The calendar is incredibly tight and demanding.”
Now, as he approaches the last tournament of the year, Alcaraz feels a renewed sense of readiness. “I know what I need to do. I’ve been working hard lately, and I believe I’m poised to achieve better results this time around. At least, that should be manageable compared to last year.”