Carlos Alcaraz received flak from his agent, Albert Molina, and psychotherapist Juanjo Moreno for taking a trip to Ibiza midway through last season. Alcaraz felt the need for a little breather after a heartbreaking loss to Novak Djokovic in the French Open 2024 semi-final. Subsequently, he went to Ibiza, a well-renowned place for partying and nightlife. The decision reaped rewards for the Spaniard as he came back rejuvenated, with a hunger for victory.
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Carlos Alcaraz Was at the End of Criticism
The World No.3 was reprimanded by his agent Molina, but he knew what he was doing. The break immensely helped Alcaraz as he immediately won the Queen's title and then went on to take the momentum to attain the Wimbledon glory, by beating Djokovic in straight sets.
On the occasion of the release of "Carlos Alcaraz: My Way", a Netflix docuseries of the tennis sensation, his agent revealed what he suggested to his client back then.
"I tried to explain to him that it might not be the best idea to go to Ibiza for three or four days on vacation when he had a tournament at Queen's the following week and Wimbledon after that," Albert Molina told Netflix.
"I remember looking at Carlos and saying, 'Carlos, now's not the time. You're being selfish in the present with your future self.' And coming from Ibiza, he hadn't had enough time to prepare for Queen's to really guarantee a win," Juanjo Moreno said while echoing Molina's complaint.
While the experts he hired made all the sense and were talking in the best of Carlos Alcaraz's interest, Alcaraz went his way, and in hindsight, it could be gauged as the best decision.
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The Decision was Successful in the Past
Alcaraz narrated in the series that he took the call to have a short trip because the decision had worked before for him in the past.
"In 2023, I was already very mentally tired. It was 24/7, 100% thinking about tennis. And at Roland Garros, I lost to Djokovic in the semifinals. And I had a friend who had a few days off, going to Ibiza with other friends," Carlos Alcaraz said in his Netflix docuseries. "I really made the most of it because I knew I might not get another three days like that. When I got back, I won Queen's and Wimbledon, of course.
"I'm not saying I won because of the partying but those days were good for me. And I believe if things are going well, you have to keep at it. I had to do it again this year."
Carlos Alcaraz has won four Grand Slam titles till now, which is a towering feat at 21. He will be looking to augment the number this season, as he is seen as the heir who will take the glory of Big 3 forward.