Nicolas Escude, the former world No. 17, has issued a stern warning to Carlos Alcaraz, advising the young Spaniard that if he hopes to claim the 2025 Rotterdam Open title, there is much work to be done. Escude pointed out that Alcaraz must fine-tune various aspects of his game if he is to make a deep run in the prestigious ATP 500 tournament.
In his opening match, Alcaraz triumphed over world No. 84 Botic van de Zandschulp with a 7-6(3), 3-6, 6-1 scoreline, avenging his surprising loss to the Dutchman in the second round of the previous year’s US Open. Although the 21-year-old showed resilience by recovering from a 3-5 deficit and saving a set point in the first set, the match highlighted some of the areas of his game that need refinement. After losing the second set, Alcaraz bounced back with a commanding third set, breaking van de Zandschulp twice to seal the win.
As the world No. 3, Alcaraz is now eyeing his first-ever indoor title in Rotterdam, a feat he has yet to achieve despite his impressive tally of 16 titles, including four Grand Slam victories. However, Escude wasn’t entirely impressed by Alcaraz’s performance, especially considering his high expectations for the top seed.
Appearing on Eurosport France, Escude offered a frank assessment of Alcaraz’s game, stressing that the young star will need to make several adjustments to be in contention for the tournament’s crown. “Carlos will have to correct a lot of things if he wants to go far in this tournament,” Escude remarked. “He won’t have much time to make those corrections because his upcoming matches will feature much stronger opponents.”
Escude, whose insight into Alcaraz’s game is well-informed from his experience on tour, went on to explain that the Spanish talent was not playing with the same dominance he showed earlier in his career. “Before, Carlos could easily hit a winner and push his opponent three meters back with a single shot. That kind of dominance isn’t there anymore,” Escude noted. He further criticized Alcaraz’s forehand errors, suggesting that static positioning during certain points also led to missed opportunities. “He needs to adjust. His best tennis comes when he’s moving, not standing still,” Escude said.
Escude’s comments reflect the growing pressure on Alcaraz to perform at his highest level, even as he remains one of the sport’s brightest young stars. “In the matches I’ve played against him, he’s shown a great level of tennis. But it’s clear: players like him need to bring their best game if they want to beat me,” Escude added, underscoring the expectations for Alcaraz to improve and adjust his game.
Looking ahead, Alcaraz will face Andrea Vavassori, an Italian qualifier ranked No. 317, in the second round. Vavassori’s relative lack of ranking shouldn’t be seen as an easy win, however, as Alcaraz is well aware of the dangers lurking in the tournament.
After his win, Alcaraz reflected on his first experience in Rotterdam, noting how different the atmosphere was from his usual surroundings. “It’s been great,” he said with a smile. “Today I faced a Dutch player, so I knew the crowd would be with him, and most of the time they were supporting him.”
Despite the local support for van de Zandschulp, Alcaraz expressed his gratitude for the Spanish fans in attendance, adding, “I’m happy to see some Spanish supporters and receive that energy. I hope to feel that same support in the next rounds.” The 21-year-old is clearly soaking in the excitement of competing in new venues and relishing the experience of connecting with fans around the world.
When asked about his opponent, van de Zandschulp, Alcaraz was full of praise. “I think he’s a very complete player,” he said. “He’s fast, has great shots, and is physically strong. He’s very dangerous because you never know what he’ll surprise you with. He’s capable of hitting incredible shots, and that’s what makes him so unpredictable.”
Alcaraz’s thoughts highlight the respect he holds for his opponents and the awareness he has of the challenges ahead. Although he’s yet to secure an indoor title, he remains driven and focused on improving his game to achieve even greater success.