”This gave rise to great frustration in meexplained the winner of the last Wimbledon. Because Monte-Carlo was a tournament that we decided to play, a nice tournament that I had only participated in once. When you are hurt, positive thoughts never come. It was a moment of frustration and anger because it happened suddenly.”
And if all tennis fans regularly mention the possible physical fragility of Carlos Alcaraz, this is also the case for the person concerned who does not understand why he is regularly hit by health problems.
”Yes, I’m thinking about that. Often I don't understand situations and I question those around me, my coaches, my physiotherapists. I ask them why do injuries happen when I do my job well: I sleep well, I eat well, I train well and injuries still happen. Ultimately, I have to deal with injuries, even if I feel good physically. I'm 20 years old and I think my body hasn't finished developing. I need a few more years for it to fully adapt to the pace required to achieve a career as a high-level athlete. I believe that as I continue to take care of myself, things will get better and better. But I admit that I have asked myself questions and often I don’t understand why I am hurt.”
A member of Alcaraz's staff must play an important role when he asks himself many questions: his psychologist, Isabel Balaguer. A person in whom the Spaniard has great confidence.
”I have progressed a lot thanks to her. In the world of tennis, it is very important to have a mental trainer: you have to know how to manage pressure week after week, and even throughout the year you have to be mentally fresh. I'm not saying it would be impossible to do it without a psychologist, but it would be much more difficult. We don't talk every month. It depends on the times. During the South American tour, I experienced difficult moments and there, I relied on her more. Now, it's been a while since we last saw each other. But an appointment will soon be made to discuss my injuries and this somewhat complicated period that I have just experienced.”
Which we hope will not repeat itself too often.
