Carlos Alcaraz has acknowledged that there are numerous aspects of his game that require improvement following a surprising loss in the semifinals of the Buenos Aires tournament. After being defeated by Alexander Zverev in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, Alcaraz made his return to the court at the ATP 250 event in Buenos Aires last week. Despite being the top seed and the clear favorite for the title, Alcaraz was unable to secure the championship as Nicolas Jarry upset him with a 7-6 (2), 6-3 victory in the semifinals.
This defeat adds to a series of disappointing losses for Alcaraz in the past six months, with his last title win dating back to Wimbledon. Currently, Alcaraz is participating in the ATP 500 event in Rio de Janeiro, where he previously won the title in 2022 and finished as the runner-up in the previous year.
During his pre-tournament press conference in Rio de Janeiro, Alcaraz acknowledged the need for improvement compared to his performance in Buenos Aires. He stated, “I executed my shots well, and I believe I am in good physical condition. However, I must enhance my performance in specific situations, particularly when facing break points and when under pressure. This is the most crucial aspect I need to work on if I want to achieve a favorable outcome in Rio.”
In the first round of the Rio de Janeiro tournament, Alcaraz, as the top seed, will face the world No. 117, Monteiro. In 2021, Monteiro defeated Alcaraz at the Great Ocean Road Open in Melbourne, but Alcaraz later avenged the loss by defeating the Brazilian in the Cincinnati Masters qualifying event.
Nevertheless, significant changes have occurred since their previous encounters in 2021. Alcaraz has since become a two-time Grand Slam champion and has established himself as one of the top players in the world. Consequently, Alcaraz is heavily favored to emerge victorious against Monteiro.
Considering the outcome of his campaign in Buenos Aires, a strong start in Rio de Janeiro would hold great significance for Alcaraz.
According to the Source tennisworldusa.org