How Carlos Alcaraz prevented a repeat of the disappointment against Novak Djokovic by protecting himself from cramps in French Open 2024 SF
Carlos Alcaraz was the World No. 1 coming into his 2023 French Open semifinal against Novak Djokovic. The Spaniard and Serb both produced pulsating displays of tennis across the first two sets. While Djokovic won the first 6-3, it was Alcaraz who clinched the second 7-5.
However, early on in the third set, Alcaraz began to experience cramps in his right calf. It would totally alter the course of what had so far been an even contest. Despite receiving treatment, the Spaniard never recovered, with Djokovic taking full advantage of the situation to win the third and fourth sets, both by 6-1 margins. The Serb would go on to defeat Casper Ruud in the final to win his 23rd Grand Slam final.
At the 2024 French Open though, Alcaraz seems to have learned important lessons from his semifinal loss to Djokovic last year. Recently, Juanjo Moreno, the Spaniard's physio, laid bare to Relevo that Alcaraz took a combination of pickle juice, salts and vitamins during his quarterfinal win over Stefanos Tsitsipas and then again during his semifinal victory against Jannik Sinner. According to Moreno, the combination prevents cramps.
"They are small bottles with pickle juice, plus salts and vitamins, he (Alcaraz) takes it as a prevention of possible cramps," Moreno said.
Nutrionist and entrepreneur Amanda Sanchez had previously discussed the benefits of the combination with Relevo.
"It is a lifesaver. In the players for whom it works, the cramp is removed instantly. For a long time it has been used in ironman, marathons... And a few years ago it came to football , more and more First Division teams are giving this option to their players," Sanchez had said.
The benefits of the combination were there for all to see in the semifinals, where Carlos Alcaraz looked fresh throughout 2-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 marathon against Sinner, which lasted four hours and 10 minutes. The only exception was the second set, during which Alcaraz showed signs of hand cramps. Sinner also experienced the same issue in the third set.
"We had to learn from that situation" - Carlos Alcaraz on cramping against Novak Djokovic during 2023 French Open semifinals
In the buildup to the 2024 French Open, Carlos Alcaraz sat down for an interview with Marca. During the interview, he touched on his heartbreaking loss to Djokovic in the 2023 French Open semifinals. The Spaniard admitted that he felt "angry and sad" in the aftermath of the encounter. However, he also said that his team had learned a lot from the chastening experience.
"It was a magnificent match against Djokovic and the fact that it ended that way in the last two sets made me very angry and sad. I always say that there is no evil that does not come with good. I said we had to learn from that situation and I did," Carlos Alcaraz told Marca.
Right now, the two-time Grand Slam champion finds himself on the cusp of winning his maiden French Open title. World No. 4 Alexander Zverev stands in the way, with the pair set to fight it out for the title on Sunday, June 9.