Carlos Alcaraz has targeted consistency in 2025 after he was dumped out of the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin.
The Spaniard’s hopes at the Nitto ATP Finals are over after a 7-6(5) 6-4 defeat to Alexander Zverev in his final group match.
Having lost two matches this week Alcaraz is now out in Turin and spoke about dealing with illness in his post-match press conference, “Well, it has been a difficult week, I guess, for me struggling with some physical problems, but at the same time it has been a really beautiful tournament,” Alcaraz opened his press conference by saying.
“It is a privilege every time that I play this tournament, the best eight players of the world. I try to take the most of these matches. I will learn from this. I think I’ve played good tennis here this week. Today I faced one of the best players in the world, without a doubt, playing really solid and great tennis. I was there.
“Just a little bit disappointed, but happy anyway to have played this tournament once again.”
The result means that Alcaraz will end the season as world number three despite winning Roland Garros and Wimbledon.
Lots to ponder for Alcaraz as some tough losses in early rounds have cost him a place in the world’s top two.
Now the Spaniard targets consistency in 2025 with time on his side, “I’ve played a lot of important moments during the season in a lot of matches. But I feel like, for example today, yeah, the tiebreak I played really good points when I was 5-2 down, for example. At the same time second set when I had my chances 15-40, first out, 30-40, second ball out,” Alcaraz explained.
“In those moments I feel like I’m not ready to put in a battle. Some matches I have not, let’s say, I’m not constant in those moments. Probably in some matches I’ve played unbelievable points, unbelievable games. But in some matches when the chances is there, I miss a lot.
“I have to work on it. I have to work to be more consistency. Let’s see. But yeah, I’m happy to know that I have to work on it, that I have to improve it. Let’s see next year.”
One big event that Alcaraz will look to win in 2025 is the Australian Open where he aims to complete the career Grand Slam.
However in order to achieve that he will have to get past Novak Djokovic and the Spaniard is excited about the prospect of facing the ten-time champion, “I mean, he deserves to choose what tournaments he’s going to play. We’ve seen before that it doesn’t matter that he doesn’t play an official match for two, three, four months because he’s going to come again and be able to win the tournament, be able to show a really high level of tennis,” Alcaraz admitted.
“So in Australian Open, is depend of the hungry he is. If he goes to Australia with hungry, is going to be one of the favorites to win Australia. Let’s see. He’s going to be fresh, for sure. A lot of time with his family, kids, wife. Have time to practice a lot, which is pretty good for a tennis player coming to a tournament with motivations.
“The goal of next year is I’m going to go to the pre-season, before we start, I will talk to my team and let’s see, Okay, what things I have to improve to next year? I will try to work in it. Let’s see in 2025, I hope to be a better player and more consistency.”
Before we get to next season Alcaraz will now compete in the Davis Cup Finals as he will be Rafael Nadal’s teammate for the 22-time Grand Slam champion’s final ever tournament.
Ahead of the week Alcaraz admitted it will be an emotional week in Malaga, “Last tournament of Rafa, I’ll be able to be next to him in the last moments on a tennis court for him. But I would think that it is the Davis Cup,” Alcaraz explained.
“It is a tournament I really want to win one day. When I was a kid, I’d dream about winning the Davis Cup, for Spain. This year we have a really special chance to win it. I will try to help the team to win the Davis Cup for me.
“But I think it’s most important for Rafa, for his last tournament. I really want him to retire with a title. It’s going to be really, really emotional and a really special tournament for me.”
