For years, the indoor court was a scene hated by Carlos Alcaraz. Not only did the results not work, his tennis shoes changed without sunlight, they lost all their shine, they turned gray. Each season finale became an ordeal due to the damn speed of the surfaces, the weight of the serve and the lack of time to create magical exchanges. One piece of information demonstrates this lack: until this tour, his indoor record was 35 wins and 15 losses, a 70% success rate, far from the 82% he shows in his career. But that has changed this season. At the moment, he has 10 matches, 10 wins and two titles: the ATP 500 in Vienna last week and, yesterday, the Masters 1000 in Paris.
The explanation could be a technical revolution, but in reality it is something simpler: energy. The injury to his right wrist kept him out of the competition for four months and disrupted a course in which, under normal conditions, he would have accumulated many more games. The break was a blow, but it has also allowed him to now enjoy a physical and mental freshness that he had never had before. He wasn't lacking tennis, he was lacking gasoline.
«I have finally managed to find my level here. “I have found the right path and the right way to do things,” Alcaraz acknowledged after winning this Sunday in Paris. The phrase had a history of frustrations behind it: in his four previous participations in the tournament he had fallen twice in the first round and twice in the second. Four disasters. «I came here every year without being able to find our best tennis. We have never given up. "I have suffered very painful defeats in this tournament, but we have always tried again the following year," he explained after defeating Ben Shelton in the final 7-6(5) and 7-5. It was revenge for the defeat suffered by the American in the quarterfinals of the US Open, but also confirmation of his new relationship with the indoor court.
Patience against Shelton
One of the answers appeared precisely in the final against Shelton. On a very fast court, the fastest of all, with few long exchanges, the Spaniard had to endure the American's service for many minutes. The first set was decided in a tiebreaker and, in the second, Alcaraz was 2-4 down. He did not rush: he read the serves better, put more remains into play and found spaces to attack. "I am very happy because I have found a way to do it, returning their serves and putting the ball into play, trying to play with my style and be myself on the court," he summarized.
Shelton, who was looking for the most important title of his career in La Défense, highlighted the effort involved in linking both tournaments. «I don't think everyone is aware of how difficult it is to win two consecutive tournaments, play ten games in 14 days and go from a slow court to a very fast court in just two weeks. "I think that shows your versatility as a champion and all the work you and your team do." He later added that he was happy to have him "back and healthy."
Future goals
The victory in Paris also has consequences in the ranking and in Alcaraz's race to complete his collection of titles. The Spaniard has 1,000 points, although he remains third in the world, behind Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev. He can no longer finish the year as number one, but he can reduce the gap and prepare for a 2027 season in which, if injuries spare him, he will once again have an opportunity to storm the skies in spring.
The success also filled a gap in his record and left the Masters 1000 he has left to win to only two to complete the nine on the calendar. Canada and Shanghai are just missing. «There are some tournaments that I would really like to win at least once. Some Masters 1000 and the ATP Finals, obviously,” he acknowledged. The list of pending goals also includes the Davis Cup, a title that has a different meaning. «The Davis Cup is also a goal. I really wanted to achieve it for my country, for Spain," he commented.
Turin and the old Masters Cup will arrive first, from November 15 to 22, and then Bologna, where Spain will play the final phase of the Davis Cup from November 26 to 29. Two indoor tournaments, precisely the stage in which he has just discovered that he can feel as comfortable as in any other. Alcaraz has spent a good part of the year trying to recover his tennis, after an injury that put his competitive continuity in doubt. Now he has also found the energy to sustain it. The covered track no longer seems to be a problem. It can be another strength.
