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

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

Carlos Alcaraz won’t 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 dissatisfied about the best way 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 all the time say that I’ve to be centered on myself, by myself sport. I feel in the present day I used to be extra nervous about his stage, his sport, than myself,” Alcaraz stated earlier than he departed Indian Wells.

“I feel that was an enormous downside [for] me, that I used to be all the time serious about his weaknesses [rather] than my greatest issues. So if you’re considering extra concerning the opponent than your self, then it’s a huge downside.”

Draper Able to Win Massive Titles

Alcaraz was stuffed 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 after I performed him in Australia, he needed to retire. I stated, ‘You can be the place you deserve,’” Alcaraz stated, earlier than including. “He deserves to be High 10. He deserves to play a remaining within the Masters 1000. I’m completely satisfied [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 massive occasions, for the massive tournaments. I [am not] stunned about what I noticed in the present day. It wasn’t a straightforward match for him, enjoying for the High 10, enjoying for the primary Masters 1000 remaining, and I feel he did nice. He handled the nerves higher than I did.”

Alcaraz and Draper are good associates on tour. Draper had deliberate to spend per week working towards with Alcaraz at his dwelling facility, however couldn’t make it because of an damage.

The third-ranked Spaniard stated he wasn’t dissatisfied about not changing 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 huge matches.

“I’m not as upset about not getting the third one in a row,” he stated. “I’m upset about myself, about the best way that I approached the match, the best way 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 all the time 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 spite of everything, I gained Miami, so I feel I’ll go for it. I’ll be taught from that match, and I’ll benefit from myself in Miami.”