Carlos Alcaraz is calmer now after ending his title drought with the 2024 Indian Wells Open triumph last week.
Something very interesting was observable during Alcaraz's stay in South America. Besides not playing as well as he usually does on clay, the young Spanish player was also very nervous.
We could see him throw his racket across the court during a rather disappointing match against Nicolas Jarry in Buenos Aires. The ankle injury in Rio certainly didn't help ease his mind because it had the potential of impacting the Sunshine Double, a pretty important part of the season.
Alcaraz generally struggled a lot lately, having gone without a final for six months, something that seemed unthinkable after the first six months in 2023.
Well, he finally found himself at the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Indian Wells, putting together another impressive showing to make the final for a second consecutive year.
He faced Daniil Medvedev once more and bested him again in the final to lift his first trophy in over six months. It was a hugely important one for Alcaraz, who is now much calmer after that run, which he confirmed when talking to TennisTV ahead of the 2024 Miami Open.
"I'm more calm right now. I'm not thinking about the fact that I haven't won a title since Wimbledon. But the best feeling wasn't lifting the trophy, but it was that I found myself and that I showed my best level, which I was struggling to show on the court. Obviously, lifting the trophy was great."
He didn't go all the way in Miami last year, even though he played really well. Winning the tournament this year would put him in the elite company of players who won the Indian Wells Open and the Miami Open in consecutive weeks, completing the rare Sunshine Double.
He has the necessary level and seems to have found his confidence again.
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