Mouratoglou, former Serena Williams' coach, applauds Alcaraz's mental resilience

Former Serena Williams’ coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, showered praise on Carlos Alcaraz following his French Open title. The French coach analyzed the world No. 2’s victory at Roland Garros, highlighting the comebacks against Jannik Sinner in the semifinals and Alexander Zverev in the final.

Alcaraz secured his third Grand Slam on Sunday with a 6-3, 2-6, 5-7, 6-1, 6-2 victory. At 21 years old, he became the youngest player to win three Slams on different surfaces, surpassing his compatriot Rafael Nadal’s record.

"Alcaraz exemplifies the importance of belief and aggression in tennis"

Mouratoglou commented on social media that Alcaraz didn’t play his best throughout the tournament but still managed to prevail: “Carlos Alcaraz’s triumph at Roland-Garros shows that you can win big even when not at your best,” Mouratoglou said.

Read also

Mats Wilander calls Carlos Alcaraz the true No. 1 despite ATP rankings

“His victory is a testament to his exceptional talent and versatility. Defeating Jannik Sinner in the semi-finals and Alexander Zverev in the final, Carlos demonstrated key skills: never give up and always take control.

“A critical area for Carlos’s improvement is reducing the impact of his performance dips. His peaks are high, but his lows are too low, leading to easy losses when he’s not at his best. Every player has ups and downs, but the key is to minimize the lows.”

Mouratoglou highlighted the match against Sinner, where Alcaraz also had long periods of irregular play and was far from his best: “The primary lesson from Carlos’s matches is the importance of being aggressive. In the Roland-Garros final, his offensive play was pivotal. When he broke and went up 4-0 in the fourth set, he believed again that he could win in five sets. This mindset shift allowed him to relax, regain control, and secure the win.”

“Taking control of the game by playing offensively, making winners and unforced errors, determines the outcome. When you are passive, it doesn’t depend on you. Carlos always takes his chance. It doesn’t work all the time, but it often does. He has won 11 out of his 12 five-set matches in Grand Slams by taking responsibility,” Mouratoglou added.

“Mental resilience is crucial. In his semi-final against Sinner, despite playing poorly, Carlos’s perseverance and mental strength led him to victory. When you feel bad, the risk is to focus on yourself. You don’t think the other player might also feel bad. If you stay mentally present and keep trying, you always have a chance. Most people complain when things don’t work, but this doesn’t help. You have to find a way to stay positive. Just think there is hope because there always is.

Read also

"It would be a tough loss": Jannik Sinner wishes Novak Djokovic swift return to court ahead of Wimbledon 2024

“Carlos Alcaraz exemplifies the importance of belief and aggression in tennis. His journey highlights mental toughness and staying in the game, even during tough times. Okay, the kid has a good forehand and backhand, but you win major trophies with your personality and resilience. Alcaraz is a spectacular proof of it.”