Alcaraz admits nerves played key role in Indian Wells semi-final defeat
INDIAN WELLS, California: Carlos Alcaraz’s dream of winning a third consecutive Indian Wells title came to an abrupt end on Saturday as he suffered a shock semi-final loss to Britain’s Jack Draper. The 21-year-old Spaniard fell 6-1, 0-6, 6-4, admitting afterward that nerves played a major role in his disappointing performance.
Alcaraz was aiming to join an elite group of players, including Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, who have completed a “three-peat” at the prestigious California tournament. However, the world No. 2 struggled to find his rhythm, especially in a dismal first set.
“Obviously, I wanted to win the third in a row, but I can’t pretend to win every match,” Alcaraz said. “I’m more upset about the way I approached the match, the way I felt during the whole day. I couldn’t calm myself down.”
After being blown away in the opening set, Alcaraz responded in dominant fashion, winning the second 6-0. However, Draper held his nerve in the decider to claim his second win over the Spaniard in five meetings.
Alcaraz admitted he was too focused on his opponent’s game rather than his own, a mental lapse that proved costly. With the clay-court season approaching, the young star will look to regain his composure as he prepares for upcoming challenges.(Reuters)
