Carlos Alcaraz is set to make his debut in Tokyo today, facing off against Argentina’s Báez. This match marks the beginning of a crucial stretch of the season, a period that has historically been challenging for the young phenom. This year, however, Alcaraz has a dual motivation driving him beyond the allure of the tournaments themselves.
Firstly, he’s aiming to finish 2025 as the World Number One. he currently holds an advantage in this race against Jannik Sinner. Alcaraz boasts 11,540 ranking points, compared to Sinner’s 10,780.Furthermore, Alcaraz has significantly fewer points to defend in the upcoming events: only 1,000 points (500 from Beijing, which he’s swapped for Tokyo this year; 200 from shanghai; 100 from paris; and 200 from the ATP Finals). In contrast, Sinner has a significant 3,830 points to defend (330 from Beijing, 1,000 from Shanghai, and 1,500 from the ATP Finals).
His second major motivation was revealed during a conversation with pau Gasol at the Laver Cup: Alcaraz is captivated by the idea of winning the ATP Finals and is eager to represent Spain in the Davis Cup (November 18-23, with Spain’s first match on the 19th against a yet-to-be-persistent opponent).
A Season’s End with Mixed Results
For various reasons, Alcaraz’s performance in the latter part of the season, from the US Open to the year’s end, has been inconsistent. He has secured only one title in this period: the ATP 500 event in Beijing in 2024. One could argue it’s been “a title and a half,” considering his victory at the Next Gen ATP Finals in 2021, a tournament for emerging talent that doesn’t award ranking points. That year marked his more regular presence on the professional circuit, though he still juggled it with Challenger events.
The year 2022 was a breakout year. Alcaraz clinched the US Open title,becoming the youngest World Number One in history. However, the demands of his newfound status as a global tennis star took thier toll. Not only did he fail to win further titles, but he also battled injuries, which ultimately prevented him from competing in the ATP Finals.
In 2023, the mental fatigue from the previous year’s success seemed to catch up with him during the final stretch of the season.He reached the semifinals in Beijing, lost in the Round of 16 in Shanghai, and was eliminated in his opening match in Paris. These are the last two ATP Masters 1000 events (along with Canada, which he hasn’t played in the last two editions) that he has yet to win.
He managed a partial recovery, reaching the semifinals of the ATP Finals, where he was defeated by a formidable Novak Djokovic. His team’s objective was to help him maintain focus and peak performance through the end of the season. In 2024, this proved challenging. After his victory in Beijing, he lost in the Shanghai quarterfinals to Machac and in the Paris Round of 16 to Humbert. He also failed to advance from the group stage at the ATP Finals, playing below his usual standard. Although he won his Davis Cup match against the Netherlands, spain ultimately lost the tie, which also marked Rafael Nadal’s farewell to professional tennis.
This year, 2025, has showcased a noticeable evolution in Alcaraz’s maturity. It presents an ideal opportunity to test this growth. As April, he has only suffered two defeats (excluding the exhibition match against Fritz at the Laver Cup): one against Holger Rune in the Barcelona Open final and another against Jannik sinner at Wimbledon. During this notable run, he has captured titles in monte Carlo, Rome, Roland Garros, Queen’s Club, Cincinnati, and the US Open.
