"When I was 15-16, I threw my racquet, I'd break one" - Carlos Alcaraz opens up about how working with a sports psychologist has helped him mentally
Former World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz recently revealed how working with a sports psychologist has helped him mentally.
After a long injury hiatus, World No. 2 Alcaraz defeated second seed Cameron Norrie 6-3, 7-5 at the Argentina Open on Sunday, February 19, to win his seventh ATP Tour title. It was also his first title since winning his maiden Grand Slam at the US Open last year.
Following that, Carlos Alcaraz spoke with Vogue about how he was unable to control his emotions well when he was 15-16 years old and threw his racquet around a lot, putting his game at "risk."
"She’s helped me a lot. I was a bit all over the place. I didn’t control my emotions well. I got really pissed off. When I was 15 or 16, I threw my racquet around quite a bit, or I’d break one, and that put my game at risk. So I knew I had to improve in that respect," Alcaraz said.
He then thanked his sports psychologist Isabel Balaguer for her help in that regard, adding that staying calm on the court is critical, as is going out on the court with a smile and feeling happy.
"Thanks to Isabel, I’ve gotten much better. Feeling calm during such a demanding year is essential. And from my point of view, it’s crucial to go out onto the court smiling, feeling happy. That helps you mentally. For me, it’s everything," Alcaraz said.
"I love chess, that is very similar to the tennis court" - Carlos Alcaraz
Carlos Alcaraz also discussed his hobby, which is chess, as the game, according to him, has many similarities with tennis in terms of "concentration," "strategy," and more.
"I love chess. Having to concentrate, to play against someone else, strategy—having to think ahead. I think all of that is very similar to the tennis court," Alcaraz said.
"You have to intuit where the other player is going to send the ball, you have to move ahead of time, and try to do something that will make him uncomfortable. So I play it a lot," he added.
The Spaniard is currently competing in the 2023 Rio Open, where he faced Brazilian Mateus Alves in the Round of 32. The defending champion took a 6-4, 5-3 lead over Alves before play was halted due to heavy rain.