Connors calls Alcaraz cramping 'unacceptable' while analyzing Djokovic clash at Roland Garros

ATP
Tuesday, 20 June 2023 at 21:08
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Carlos Alcaraz lost against Novak Djokovic at Roland Garros (French Open) due to cramps and former player Jimmy Connors has called that unacceptable.
It was a really interesting matchup at Roland Garros but after the second set, Alcaraz's tennis fell apart mostly due to cramps. He started to cramp and couldn't keep up with the high intensity anymore. It was disappointing to see for Connors who had high hopes for Alcaraz after his US Open triumph last year:
"Alcaraz, everybody thought that he had come of age and he has come of age. He’s 19-20 years old and he’s won a Grand Slam already but there’s guys out there, such as Djokovic who is not willing to just roll over and say, 'Okay you can have it now.' He’s going to have to earn it."

Unacceptable

The cramps were very disappointing to many including Alcaraz who admitted that they were likely due to him being more nervous than anything physical. It's a shame because it was shaping up to be a really great match. Cornnors himself was not impressed calling the cramps unacceptable alluding that Alcaraz wasn't prepared to play five sets:
"Djokovic is in great shape and he proved that. Alcaraz was cramping after the second set. To me, that is kind of unacceptable. I don’t know if that’s on his team or nerves got into it or what but cramping in the third set. I know Djokovic puts a lot of pressure on you and all that, but you got to be ready to play five sets. Especially in the French [Open] against a guy like Djokovic."
It's tough to say whether Alcaraz was physically not ready because he looks very imposing on a tennis court but it likely was a combination of many things including physical and mental.

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