Carlos Alcaraz highlights reason for his indoor struggles after ATP Finals upset

11/12/2024 05:23 AM

Carlos Alcaraz addressed the difficulties he has faced on indoor courts so far in his career after his surprise loss to Casper Ruud at the 2024 ATP Finals. 

The world No 3 pointed to the lack of matches he has played in indoor conditions and expressed his belief that he will be “a really good player on indoor courts.”

Alcaraz delivered an erratic display in a 1-6, 5-7 defeat to Ruud on the indoor hard-court of the ATP Finals in Turin on Monday. The 21-year-old confirmed he was feeling unwell after his first round robin match.

The result followed Alcaraz’s third round upset loss to Ugo Humbert in the third round of the Paris Masters — the other big indoor hard-court event on the ATP Tour.

The Spaniard is yet to win a title or reach a final at an indoor tournament, having claimed eight titles on clay, five on outdoor hard courts and three on grass.

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Alcaraz’s coach Juan Carlos Ferrero has installed a replica of the Turin surface, which is produced by the GreenSet brand, at his tennis academy in Alicante.

The four-time major winner trained on the court ahead of this year’s ATP Finals, while the same surface will be used at the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga.

Following his defeat to Ruud, Alcaraz was asked what he finds difficult about playing indoors compared to other surfaces.

“I have no experience playing on indoor courts,” Alcaraz said. “I could practice a lot on indoor courts, but I have not matches in my back on indoor courts.

“So I don’t know. I have to be better on this part of the year that we play on indoor courts. I don’t know. I’ll be a really good player on indoor courts, I’m sure about it.

“But I think it’s about time, about getting experience, getting matches in my back, hitting on indoor courts. I don’t feel that I’m a bad player indoors.

“Probably I’m going to say a lot of players are better than me on indoor court. I don’t know. I can’t answer as good as I wanted to this question.”

Alcaraz will face Andrey Rublev in his second group stage match in Turin on Wednesday.

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