Carlos Alcaraz Feels 2025 Setup Change 'Really Makes Difference'
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Carlos Alcaraz is a four-time Grand Slam champion, but he's not afraid to change his setup and try different equipment.
The Spanish player has enjoyed plenty of success on the ATP Tour in recent years, but during the 2024 off-season, it was reported that he tried a different setup when it came to his tennis racket.
Players sometimes try different rackets, as Jannik Sinner did this off-season, but they usually stick to the racket they have used previously.
However, also maybe because of Sinner's incredible success in 2024, Alcaraz felt that he needed to improve in certain areas. He's one of the biggest hitters on the ATP Tour, which is why he could have also benefitted from a certain setup change.
The 21-year-old player worked on his serve during the off-season, but he also changed his racket a little bit. Alcaraz's new racket should be five grams heavier, which doesn't seem like a lot.
However, in a game of inches, that's a relatively significant difference. According to a previous report from MARCA, it was Alcaraz's coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero, who suggested the change. That was made in an attempt to make the Spaniard's shots even more powerful.
Alcaraz got to fully test out the speed of his shots during the ongoing 2025 Rotterdam Open. He reached his first indoor hardcourt final in Rotterdam, and during his stay in the Dutch city, the four-time Grand Slam champion spoke about his setup as well.
The ATP World No. 3 player admitted that he already feels the difference. Of course, he got to observe that already during the Australian Open. Alcaraz thinks he's able to hit even more powerful shots than before.
"As you know I changed the weight of the racket a little bit. I played in Australia with these five grams more, I felt a little more force, the feeling of hitting at impact is different, I feel like I generate more power."
Of course, no one knows better if there has been some impact on Alcaraz's game than the man himself. According to him, he can hit even stronger but keep the same amount of precision as before.
That's a scary idea for some of his opponents, as Alcaraz's power, especially when it comes out of nowhere, can be very destructive for those standing on the opposite side of the court.
So while the change amounted to only five grams, the two-time Wimbledon champion feels that it "really made a difference."
"Afterwards, it also depends a lot on the player you are facing. I have the impression that I keep the same control while generating more speed. These five grams really make a difference."
