Carlos Alcaraz might already be one of tennis’ brightest stars, but questions surrounding his consistency continue to linger — and former world No. 1 Mats Wilander believes that issue won’t simply fade with time. According to the seven-time Grand Slam winner, fluctuations in Alcaraz’s form could be a recurring theme throughout his career, no matter how brilliant his peaks might be.
As the 2025 season unfolds, the Spaniard’s performances have swung between spectacular and surprising. Holding a 15-4 win-loss record across five tournaments, Alcaraz’s campaign has been far from straightforward. He launched his year with a solid quarter-final run at the Australian Open, where he eventually fell to Novak Djokovic in a high-voltage clash. From there, he shifted gears and captured his first-ever indoor title at the ATP 500 in Rotterdam — a significant milestone for a player still adapting to different surfaces.
Yet that high was short-lived. Inconsistencies crept back in, with early exits piling up. He was outplayed by Jiri Lehecka in the Qatar Open quarter-finals, upstaged by Jack Draper during the Indian Wells semis, and stunned by veteran David Goffin in the second round of the Miami Open — a result that caught many off guard.
Despite holding two Grand Slam titles from 2024 — Roland Garros and Wimbledon — and sitting third in the world rankings behind Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev, Alcaraz’s recent setbacks suggest that harnessing his brilliance consistently remains a work in progress. As he gears up for the Monte Carlo Masters and the European clay-court leg, all eyes are on whether he can find the rhythm that carried him to major success last year.
Wilander, offering a candid assessment during an interview with TNT Sports, was unfiltered in his appraisal of the 21-year-old phenom.
“I think Carlos Alcaraz is going through what Carlos Alcaraz will be going through for the rest of his career, which is that there are going to be inconsistencies,” said the Swede.
“He’s going to pull off some miracles at times, and then those miracles are going to help him win matches, and he’s going to pull off miracles at different times, and he’s not going to win the match in the end.”
The former champion pointed out that some of Alcaraz’s losses — such as the one to Draper — have been peculiar, not just surprising.
“But obviously, if you lose the result against Jack Draper, the way that it happened is very weird for a top player.
But I do think in the end, Carlos Alcaraz is going to be quite inconsistent in terms of results. We’re so used to not seeing a former world No 1 and most probably a future world No 1 to be that inconsistent.”
Wilander didn’t shy away from discussing the implications of Alcaraz’s patchy form ahead of the French Open, where the Spaniard is defending champion. However, he was quick to emphasize that Alcaraz’s unpredictable nature cuts both ways — just as he can slump suddenly, he can also rebound with equal swiftness.
“Well, he can bounce back at any time,” Wilander added.
“That’s the thing about Carlos Alcaraz. He could bounce back within two weeks because of the way he plays tennis.”
Though many consider clay his natural hunting ground, Wilander isn’t entirely convinced. Still, he admitted that Alcaraz could just as easily defend his Roland Garros crown if he taps into his explosive best.
“Even though he won the French Open last year, I’m not sure clay is his best surface, but it wouldn’t surprise me at all if he goes and wins the French Open again, and does a repeat, because that’s the quality that he brings.
I’m just saying that I think these results will happen here and there. Unfortunately, they have been happening in some Grand Slam tournaments.”
Yet, in Wilander’s view, it’s the smaller events where Alcaraz might struggle more often than not, as motivation and rhythm vary week to week.
“But I do think it’s more in the regular tournaments that Carlos Alcaraz will have problems and I do think that he will bounce back and do well at the French Open.”
In a sport where consistency is often the hallmark of greatness, Alcaraz’s journey seems set to defy that mold. With his flamboyant shot-making, fearless aggression, and unique court presence, he brings electricity to the game — but also unpredictability. Whether this blend becomes a winning formula or a frustrating pattern is something only time, and perhaps Paris, will tell.