Patrick Mouratoglou says that Carlos Alcaraz’s team needs to take a look at his schedule to ensure he gets a break – but for his mental health, not his physical health.
In the latest episode of Eye of the Coach, the Frenchman says that he wasn’t entirely surprised by the Spaniard’s exit in the second round of the US Open.
“I could feel already before the US Open that he was struggling mentally – not because he’s not good or he has a problem, but because it’s consuming, a Grand Slam,” says Mouratoglou.
KEY MOMENTS
0.01 – Mouratoglou knew Alcaraz was struggling mentally ahead of the US Open.
0.11 – Alcaraz’s achievements in the last three months are unbelievable. “Tennis is a lot about fighting your emotions,” says Mouratoglou. “You need to be fresh.”
0.35 – Mouratoglou says he always thought there was a question-mark over Alcaraz’s mental state going into the US Open. He did not expect him to lose in straight sets, but could sense his mental exhaustion: “That’s exactly the consequence of someone who is emotionally drained.”
0.59 – Roland-Garros, Wimbledon and the Olympics required his complete commitment because they mattered so much to him.
1.16 – Alcaraz is exceptional and is possibly the best player in the world when it comes to being on court.
1.37 – He is mentally strong, but is an emotional person.
1.43 – Alcaraz has cramped on court many times, and emotional people have to make great efforts to control their emotions and handle the pressure.
2.01 – Alcaraz knows that to win he has to play, and enjoy playing.
2.15 – Alcaraz’s team need to put together a calendar to ensure he has enough mental rest.
In the latest episode of Eye of the Coach, the Frenchman says that he wasn’t entirely surprised by the Spaniard’s exit in the second round of the US Open.
“I could feel already before the US Open that he was struggling mentally – not because he’s not good or he has a problem, but because it’s consuming, a Grand Slam,” says Mouratoglou.
KEY MOMENTS
0.01 – Mouratoglou knew Alcaraz was struggling mentally ahead of the US Open.
0.11 – Alcaraz’s achievements in the last three months are unbelievable. “Tennis is a lot about fighting your emotions,” says Mouratoglou. “You need to be fresh.”
0.35 – Mouratoglou says he always thought there was a question-mark over Alcaraz’s mental state going into the US Open. He did not expect him to lose in straight sets, but could sense his mental exhaustion: “That’s exactly the consequence of someone who is emotionally drained.”
0.59 – Roland-Garros, Wimbledon and the Olympics required his complete commitment because they mattered so much to him.
1.16 – Alcaraz is exceptional and is possibly the best player in the world when it comes to being on court.
1.37 – He is mentally strong, but is an emotional person.
1.43 – Alcaraz has cramped on court many times, and emotional people have to make great efforts to control their emotions and handle the pressure.
2.01 – Alcaraz knows that to win he has to play, and enjoy playing.
2.15 – Alcaraz’s team need to put together a calendar to ensure he has enough mental rest.
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SportsTranscript
00:00I could feel already before the U.S. Open that he was struggling mentally.
00:03Not because he's not good or he has a problem, but because it's consuming a Grand Slam.
00:11If you look at what he did the last three months, it's unbelievable.
00:14He won Rangaros, he won Wimbledon, he played the final of the Olympics.
00:18But I know how draining a Grand Slam is emotionally.
00:22You have to fight so many things and tennis is a lot about
00:25fighting your emotions, your thoughts during matches.
00:28But you need to be fresh.
00:29If you're not fresh here, it's more and more and more difficult to do it.
00:33That's why I said before this U.S. Open that for me,
00:36there was a big question about Carlos Alcara's mindset coming to this U.S. Open.
00:40And for me, it's half a surprise.
00:41I wouldn't think he would lose in three sets like this,
00:43but I could feel he was mentally exhausted.
00:46So I'm not surprised that he's saying that he had so many thoughts
00:48and so many emotions that he couldn't deal with.
00:50That's exactly the consequence of someone who's emotionally drained.
00:54This defeat in the final of the Olympics was painful for him,
00:57but I don't think he's the reason.
00:58I would more say that those tournaments,
01:00whether it's Rangaros, Wimbledon or the Olympics,
01:03they meant so much for him.
01:04He put everything mentally, emotionally,
01:07of course, physically and tennis-wise on the table to win them
01:10because he counted so much.
01:11And when it counts so much for you, then emotionally, it's draining.
01:16Carlos is exceptional.
01:17His achievement at that young age is just incredible.
01:20I think that tennis-wise is probably one of the best, if not the best.
01:24He has so many variations in his game.
01:26He's good everywhere.
01:27He has no flaws.
01:28Physically, he's a beast.
01:30I mean, the way he moves on the court, his physical ability,
01:33his athleticism is unreal.
01:35I think mentally he's strong
01:36because I've seen him win so many matches not playing well.
01:40If there is one little weakness, I would say he's very, very emotional.
01:43We've seen him cramp many times already.
01:45If you look at Roger, Rafa and Novak,
01:47have you seen them cramp once in a match?
01:49And emotional people, when they need to control their emotions,
01:53it's a tremendous effort.
01:54The income is not that important.
01:56What is important is to have fun.
01:57It's just to take pressure away.
01:58That's the only thing.
01:59I mean, they're unbelievable competitors
02:01and Carlos is an incredible competitor.
02:03He's here to win.
02:03But he knows that to win, he needs to play.
02:06He needs to enjoy playing tennis
02:08and he has to deal with his emotions
02:10so they let him really play tennis and enjoy
02:12rather than being anxious and tense.
02:15So I think that knowing that,
02:17they will have to think of a calendar
02:19where he has enough rest, mental rest,
02:21not physical rest, mental rest.
02:23I think it's very important for his future.
02:27I think it's very important for his future.