Despite winning two Grand Slam titles during the 2024 season, tennis superstar
Carlos Alcaraz was unable to replicate the same success at the ATP Masters 1000 level, following several early round eliminations.
The Spaniard made history by becoming the youngest male player to win Roland Garros and Wimbledon back-to-back this summer. Additionally, he triumphed at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Indian Wells, and brought home the silver medal at the men's singles event at the Paris Olympics. However, Alcaraz suffered a bad string of losses at the other Masters events this year.
Unexpected defeats and injury halted Alcaraz's rise to the top spot
Although World No.1 Jannik Sinner also won two Grand Slam titles this season, the Italian holds a substantial lead over Alcaraz (who is ranked World No.2) in the ATP rankings. This is largely due to Sinner's success at the Masters level, whereas Alcaraz suffered several shock eliminations in the early rounds at the same events.
After his triumph at Indian Wells, Alcaraz lost to Grigor Dimitrov in the quarterfinals at Miami. A subsequent forearm injury forced the Spaniard to withdraw from Monte Carlo and Rome, before he lost in the quarterfinals to Andrey Rublev in Madrid.
Following the Olympics, Alcaraz skipped Montreal but was stunned in the second round of Cincinnati by French veteran Gael Monfils. The 21-year old would then fall to Tomas Machac in the quarterfinals at Shanghai, before his recent round of 16 loss to hometown hero Ugo Humbert at the
Paris Masters on Thursday.
Alcaraz has an astounding 85% winning rate at Grand Slams this season. However, the number drops to 75% at Masters events, which is impressive but below his standard. Furthermore, the Spaniard won two Masters titles in both 2022 and 2023, but only one during the 2024 season.