Former world No. 6 Gilles Simon has come out strongly against what he sees as “unfair” criticism of Carlos Alcaraz’s current form, urging fans and pundits alike to consider the “big picture” when evaluating the Spaniard’s performance. Despite recent setbacks that have caught considerable attention, Simon believes that the criticism is more about unrealistic expectations than about genuine decline.
In recent tournaments, world No. 3 Alcaraz experienced surprising losses that have sparked debate among tennis enthusiasts. Notably, he suffered a 6-1, 0-6, 6-4 defeat to Jack Draper in the Indian Wells semi-final, ending a 16-match winning streak at the event and dashing hopes of securing a third consecutive title. Soon after, at the Miami Open, he was unexpectedly beaten 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 by David Goffin in his very first match of the tournament. Although he claimed his 17th ATP title back in February at the Rotterdam Open, Alcaraz has yet to feature in another final across four tournaments in 2025, falling at the quarter-final stage at both the Australian Open and the Qatar Open.
Amid the swirl of speculation over his form, the young Spaniard has found an ardent supporter in Simon. Speaking to Tennis365, the Frenchman defended Alcaraz’s “unbelievable” achievements and questioned the intensity of the criticism directed toward the four-time major champion. Simon emphasized the burden of high expectations that naturally accompanies a player of Alcaraz’s caliber, noting that every loss tends to be magnified due to the immense spotlight he is under. He encapsulated his thoughts with this candid observation:
“The problem with this type of player is that they have a lot of attention, so in the end, every time we have big expectations for them. He won four Slams, and it’s crazy at his age. People are tough. It’s unbelievable what he has achieved already, and he will achieve much more than he did. Every time someone like him is losing, we make it a big deal, as he’s supposed to win everything. I don’t believe he’s this kind of person. He is a player where we know what he has in the racket, we know what he is able to do. Everybody in the end likes him and when he’s not winning, we are disappointed and we put it on him – and I think it’s unfair.”
Looking forward, Alcaraz is expected to step back onto the courts at the Monte Carlo Masters as he commences his clay season. Although the Spaniard has been cautious with his schedule—having withdrawn from this event in the past two years, as well as from both the Barcelona and Italian Opens in 2024 due to injury concerns—these setbacks did not prevent him from clinching his maiden French Open title in June or defending his Wimbledon title during the summer, once again completing the coveted ‘Channel Slam’. His impressive track record on clay is further underlined by his triumphs at the Barcelona Open and the Madrid Open in 2022 and 2023.
As Alcaraz gears up for what promises to be a packed summer, 14-time ATP Tour titleholder Simon remains optimistic about the Spaniard’s ability to rediscover his winning touch. Simon further elaborated on his steadfast confidence in the young champion’s resilience:
“Sometimes, it’s a bit harder, but what I’m sure about is that he’s going to find a way again, and this is where it’s crazy. When he’s going to win, everyone is going to say: ‘He’s back on track’. He’s going to win again. Is it going to be at the French Open, is it going to be at the tournament before? Maybe he’s going to play a bit more because he lost, so he has maybe that need to be on court and win matches to build that confidence that will help him again to win the big title in the end. The problem is with the media, we are always panicking when someone is winning, they’re going to win everything for the next five years. No, it always changed, and suddenly it changed like this, and no one sees it coming – because they are not looking at the big picture. And the big picture is Carlos Alcaraz is a very special player, he has already achieved amazing things, and he will achieve amazing things again. When? He’s going to find a way. I don’t see anything as dramatic as it is. You can maybe lose two tournaments and maybe win again the French Open and Wimbledon. Then I want to ask all the people who talked badly about what he was doing right now: ‘Ok, was it that important to lose in the first match in Miami?’”
Simon’s remarks highlight a recurring theme in sports: the rapid shifts in form and the inevitable adjustments that come with high-level competition. Even though Alcaraz has experienced a dip in his otherwise meteoric rise, Simon’s unwavering faith in his capabilities suggests that the Spaniard is poised to bounce back. With a busy clay season ahead and major tournaments on the horizon, the big picture remains clear—Carlos Alcaraz is a uniquely talented competitor who will continue to defy expectations, one comeback at a time.