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By Chris Oddo | @Thefanchild | Tuesday 18 March 2025
Carlos Alcaraz may not take over his semifinal loss Jack draper Until he wins his next title. The 21-year-old, who saw his offer for a peat in Indian Wells, snapped on Saturday while falling into the 6-1, 0-6, 6-4 draper, told reporters that he was more disappointed about how he prepared for the match.
A major contributor to his loss in the hands of the 2025 BNP Paribas Open champion? Nerves and lack of confidence in his game.
“I always say that I have to focus on myself, on my game. I think today I was more concerned about his level, his game, than me,” Alcaraz said before leaving Indian Wells.
“I think it was a big problem (for) me. That I always thought about his weaknesses (more) than my best things. So when you think more about the opponent than myself, then it’s a big problem.”
Draper ready to win big titles
Alcaraz was full of drapering for draper, which explains why he had so much difficulty in creating an effective strategy to oppose him on Saturday.
“I remember in January when I played in Australia, he had to retire. I said,” You will be where he deserves, “” Alcaraz said, before adding. “He deserves to be the 10 -year -old. He deserves to play a final in the masters 1000. I am happy (for) him.
“I didn’t doubt his level. He’s ready to stay there for a long time. He’s ready to play for big events, big shifts. I (I’m not) surprised at what I saw today. It was not an easy match for him, playing for the top 10, playing for the first 1000 final masters, and I think he did well.”
Alcaraz and Draper are good friends in the tournament. Draper had planned to spend a week by practicing Alcaraz at his home facility, but could not do it because of an injury.
The third -range Spaniard said he was not disappointed not to become the third player in history who finished a Pepa with three Indian peat. He is more upset that he could not extinguish his nerves and play the type of herd tennis that he knows he can produce in big matches.
“I’m not so upset not to get the third in a row,” he said. “I am upset about myself, the way I approached the match, the way I felt all day long, that I couldn’t calm myself down.
“That, for me, (it’s the thing) the most disappointing thing I am feeling now, because it was probably one of the worst groups I played in my entire career, the first set.”
“I will use as much as in Miami”
Loss-and the search for the soul-can be the spark that drives it up to Miami. This is the beauty of tennis. There is always the next week.
“So (tells) how nervous I was before the match, all day. That is, to me, really disappointing. Because I consider myself a person learning from the losses. The last time I lost here was the semifinal, and ultimately, I won Miami, so I think I’ll go for him.
