Carlos Alcaraz explains why he is 'talking less and less' with his psychologist
NewsWednesday, 19 November 2025 at 21:45
Carlos Alcaraz is one of numerous athletes to have a psychologist, but the Spaniard has not been using his as often.
The intense tennis calendar makes it particularly tempting to use psychologists as a coping mechanism. Alcaraz is among those who think measures like not holding the Davis Cup every year could shorten the season and make the event more special.
Although Alcaraz wanted to play at the 2025 Davis Cup finals in Bologna, which began on Tuesday, he withdrew with an injury sustained at the 2025 ATP Finals. Jannik Sinner defeated the Spaniard to secure the ATP Finals title on home soil in Turin.
That loss does not alter the reality of how outstanding Alcaraz has been since the clay-court swing. He reached the final of every event he played since April (excluding the Laver Cup, a team event) before Cameron Norrie finally ended that run at the 2025 Paris Masters.
In an interview with Marca, the six-time Grand Slam champion explained that his superb results have reduced the need for him to speak with his psychologist, Isabel Balaguer, about any negative feelings.
"I’m talking less and less with her. It’s a relationship where Juanqui and Samu talk to her a lot to give her instructions so that she can then pass them on to me on court. I talk to her when I feel the need to vent and speak with someone."
"Thank God, since Miami I haven’t had that feeling of needing to vent because everything has gone really well. Both on and off the court, I’ve felt very good."
The 2025 Miami Open match that Alcaraz referenced was against David Goffin. Being eliminated in the round of 64 by the veteran Belgian was one of the most unexpected results from 2025.
Carlos Alcaraz finished as the year-end ATP world No. 1 ahead of Jannik Sinner
Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner's domination of men's tennis continued in 2025. The pair have split the eight Grand Slams since the start of 2024, and are far ahead of their rivals in the rankings.
Sinner regained the No. 1 ranking from Alcaraz before the 2025 ATP Finals by winning the 2025 Paris Masters title. However, the 22-year-old started the year-end championships needing three victories to finish as the year-end No. 1 regardless of what his rival did.
Alcaraz achieved that by winning all three of his group-stage matches. A ceremony was held for him after sealing the year-end No. 1 spot by beating Lorenzo Musetti, but he received criticism from Sam Querrey for how he dressed for it.
Sinner's triumph over Alcaraz to retain his ATP Finals title took him to within 550 ranking points of his rival ahead of 2026. However, the Italian will defend many points again at the 2026 Australian Open in January.
Had Sinner not been suspended for three months earlier this season after reaching a case settlement with the World Anti-Doping Agency, he probably would have finished as the year-end No. 1.
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