What Did Alcaraz Hate Most About His Loss to Draper at Indian Wells?

By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Tuesday March 18, 2025

Carlos Alcaraz may not recover from his semifinal loss to Jack Draper till he wins his subsequent title. The 21-year-old, who noticed his bid for a three-peat at Indian Wells snapped on Saturday as he fell to Draper 6-1, 0-6, 6-4, advised reporters that he was most disenchanted about the way in which that he ready for the match.

A key contributor to his defeat by the hands of the eventual 2025 BNP Paribas Open champion? Nerves, and the insecurity in his personal sport.

“I at all times say that I’ve to be centered on myself, by myself sport. I feel right now I used to be extra anxious about his stage, his sport, than myself,” Alcaraz mentioned earlier than he departed Indian Wells.

“I feel that was an enormous drawback [for] me, that I used to be at all times desirous about his weaknesses [rather] than my greatest issues. So once you’re considering extra concerning the opponent than your self, then it’s a massive drawback.”

Draper Able to Win Huge Titles

Alcaraz was filled with reward for Draper, which explains why he had a lot problem developing with an efficient technique to counter him on Saturday.

“I bear in mind in January once I performed him in Australia, he needed to retire. I mentioned, ‘You’ll be the place you deserve,’” Alcaraz mentioned, earlier than including. “He deserves to be High 10. He deserves to play a last within the Masters 1000. I’m glad [for] him.

“I did not doubt about his stage. He is prepared to remain there for a very long time. He is able to play for the large occasions, for the large tournaments. I [am not] shocked about what I noticed right now. It wasn’t a simple match for him, taking part in for the High 10, taking part in for the primary Masters 1000 last, and I feel he did nice. He handled the nerves higher than I did.”

Alcaraz and Draper are good buddies on tour. Draper had deliberate to spend per week training with Alcaraz at his house facility, however couldn’t make it because of an harm.

The third-ranked Spaniard mentioned he wasn’t disenchanted about not turning into the third participant in historical past to finish an Indian Wells three-peat. He’s extra upset that he couldn’t quell his nerves and play the kind of clutch tennis that he is aware of he can produce in massive matches.

“I’m not as upset about not getting the third one in a row,” he mentioned. “I’m upset about myself, about the way in which that I approached the match, the way in which that I felt throughout the entire day, that I could not settle down myself.

“That, for me, [is the] most disappointing factor that I am feeling proper now, as a result of it was most likely one of many worst units that I’ve performed in my complete profession, the primary set.”

“I Will Make the Most of it in Miami”

The loss – and the soul-searching – could possibly be the spark that pushes him excessive in Miami. That’s the great thing about tennis. There’s at all times subsequent week.

“In order that [shows] how nervous I used to be earlier than the match, throughout the entire day. That’s,, for me, actually disappointing. As a result of I think about myself an individual who learns from the losses. The final time that I misplaced right here was the semifinal, and in any case, I gained Miami, so I feel I’ll go for it. I’ll study from that match, and I’ll take advantage of myself in Miami.”