Carlos Alcaraz could improve his French Open chances by making one important decision
Carlos Alcaraz has started the year in outstanding fashion, picking up 12 straight wins across two tournaments.
Alcaraz capped off his Grand Slam collection earlier this month by defeating Novak Djokovic in the final of the Australian Open.
He then pulled out of the Rotterdam Open before heading to Qatar, where he carried on his strong form by beating Arthur Fils in the final.
Now, he will shift his attention to the upcoming ‘sunshine swing’ in America before heading back to Europe for the clay-court season.
The Spaniard’s next big target will be a third straight French Open title, and there is one move he could make that might improve his chances even further.
Why Carlos Alcaraz should consider skipping an event if he feels worn down
With five major ATP events on the calendar before Roland Garros, it might be smart for Alcaraz to pull out of a warm-up event if he starts feeling any physical strain.
The clay swing is a demanding stretch of the season. Tournaments come in quick succession, and the surface itself can take a real toll on players’ bodies.
Alcaraz has often voiced his concerns about the packed schedule and has shown that he’s willing to skip even mandatory Masters 1000 events to protect his health, even if it means missing out on ranking points or bonuses.
The Spaniard’s absence from the last two Canadian Open events, attributed to fatigue and minor muscle issues, clearly demonstrated this.
If Alcaraz does feel fatigued again during this year’s clay-court run, taking another break could help him stay fresh for Paris.
If he does decide to take a break, skipping the Monte-Carlo Masters could make sense since it is not mandatory. But it is worth noting that he won Monte-Carlo in 2025, so skipping it would cost him 1,000 ranking points.
But given what is at stake – including a chance to stop Jannik Sinner from completing a Career Grand Slam – every decision will carry extra weight this time around.
Carlos Alcaraz’s post-match speech after winning the 2025 French Open
Coming back from two sets down, Alcaraz pulled off one of the most memorable victories in recent memory to win the 2025 French Open.
Sinner was defeated by the Spaniard, who won 4-6, 6-7, 6-4, 7-6, 7-6, after saving three consecutive championship points in the fourth set.
After lifting his third straight trophy at Roland Garros, Alcaraz addressed the crowd and paid tribute to his opponent.
“Jannik, it’s amazing the level you reach,” he began by saying.
“To everyone who came from Murcia to support me, thank you. This trophy is yours also. Paris, you have been important support for me since the first practice in the first round, I can’t thank you enough. You will always be in my heart.
Speaking on TNT Sports, Tim Henman hailed the match, stating: “When you’ve got the top two going head to head, it doesn’t always live up to the hype, but that is one of the best, one of the greatest matches I’ve ever seen.
“And to have it in a grand slam final is something special. Spare a thought for Jannik Sinner. He played some amazing tennis and got oh so close.”
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