"Sometimes you don't want to go to tournaments": Carlos Alcaraz admits struggle to stay motivated, bemoans lack of downtime amid 'tight' tour schedule
Carlos Alcaraz has opened up about his struggle to stay motivated due to the demanding tour schedule. The Spaniard joins a growing list of players like Iga Swiatek, Elena Rybakina, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Jack Draper to raise complaints about the number of tournaments they are expected to play.
Currently competing at the Laver Cup in Berlin, Alcaraz claimed a commanding 6-4, 6-4 win over Ben Shelton in his debut singles match at the event. However, Team World still holds a 8-4 lead heading into Day 3, leaving Team Europe with a lot of ground to cover in order to end their two-year losing streak.
Speaking to the press after his win, Carlos Alcaraz revealed that it was "difficult" for him to stay motivated, asserting that the "tight" schedule left him with little to no days off to relax.
"Well, honestly it is difficult. I mean, sometimes I didn't feel motivated at all. It is a difficult moment. As I said many times, you know, the calendar is so tight, a lot of tournaments, no days off or not as much days off as I want," Carlos Alcaraz said.
The four-time Grand Slam champion also confessed that he often felt reluctant about participating in tournaments because he wanted to spend quality time with his family and friends.
Alcaraz bemoaned the excessive travel, the challenges of dealing with jet lag and the lack of adequate time off, admitting that he occasionally had to force himself to go to practice sessions and matches.
"Sometimes I really want to take some days for myself that I can't because I have to practice, I have to travel, I have to, you know, the jet lag sometimes when you're traveling around the world. So sometimes you don't want to go to tournaments, I'm not gonna lie," he said.
"I have been feeling this, you know, this feeling few times already that I don't want to go to that tournament because I want to stay at home with my family or my friends, and I have to find the motivation just to go and put the right tennis or the right face in the practice and on the matches," he added.
Carlos Alcaraz: "My best tennis show up when I'm smiling and enjoying on court, and sometimes difficult to find that rhythm or that good feeling"
During the same press conference, Carlos Alcaraz emphasized that he produced his best tennis when he was smiling and enjoying himself on court, but disclosed that it was difficult to find that "good feeling" sometimes.
The Spaniard also highlighted that focusing on his team and family was his "best option" to stay motivated.
"I'm business guy. I always want to win every match that I go, but as I said many, many times, my best tennis show up when I'm smiling and enjoying on court, and sometimes difficult to find that rhythm or that good feeling," Carlos Alcaraz said.
"So, I mean, I want to be focused on my team and my family and try to play my best in every practice, in every match, to be in the top of the ranking. I think it is the best options to keep motivated," he added.
Alcaraz will team up with Casper Ruud to take on Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe in a crucial doubles match at the Laver Cup. If neither of the teams has sealed the win by the final match of the day, the 21-year-old will square off against Taylor Fritz in a must-win contest.
Following his Laver Cup participation, Carlos Alcaraz will make his return to the tour at the ATP 500 China Open in Beijing, which commences on September 26.