Feliciano Lopez brutally analyzes Carlos Alcaraz’s shocking defeat at US Open

The former Spanish tennis player Feliciano Lopez, in an interview with Sky Sports, tried to analyze the reasons that led to the elimination of Carlos Alcaraz in the second round of the US Open. The reigning champion of Roland Garros and Wimbledon appeared rather exhausted and never found the way to stage a real reaction on the court.

Feliciano explained how the defeat certainly disappointed the young Spaniard, who arrived at Flushing Meadows – according to Lopez – mentally exhausted.

“I think he’s really disappointed. I don’t remember the last Slam where he lost in the second round, probably a long time ago. I think he’s mentally exhausted at this part of the season. I remember that after losing last year at the US Open, he had a bad last part of the season. It’s not the first time that it’s happened, maybe he played too much in the last three or four months.

The schedule has asked for an extra effort from the tennis players this year considering that the Paris 2024 Olympic Games were added after Wimbledon and before the US Open. I would also like to talk about the pressure he now feels. We can’t forget that he’s only 21. He’s already won a lot and the expectations are always high, but this loss should make him appreciate even more what he’s doing at his age. He’s a human being too and he can have a bad day. There’s nothing to worry about, he’ll go on and play a lot more in 2024. I’m sure he’ll be ready,” said Lopez.

Carlitos, in a press conference after his loss to van de Zandschulp, explained how he doesn’t feel well mentally and that he didn’t arrive in the best condition at this US Open. And he hinted that he will now take a break.

“I don’t know what to say right now. I think he played very well. He played very good tennis. I thought he would give me more free points, but he didn’t make any mistakes. That confused me a little bit. I didn’t know how to handle it. I couldn’t raise my level. I think my tennis has always been at the same point. It wasn’t enough to give me a chance to win. What can I say? I didn’t feel good hitting the ball and I made a lot of mistakes,” he said.

He spoke of a very intense season, explaining: “The schedule is very difficult. I played a lot of matches, at Roland Garros, Wimbledon and the Olympics. I took a couple of days off after the Games. I thought it was enough, but it wasn’t. Maybe I came here without the energy I thought I had. I don’t want to use that as an excuse, but I’m the type of player who needs more days off before a big tournament. I have to learn from that.”

Regarding what his thoughts were during the match, the young Spaniard analyzed: “I was fighting with myself, in my mind, during the match. In tennis you fight against someone who is looking for the same thing as you, victory, and you have to be calm and think better to achieve them. Today I was playing against him and against myself, in my mind. Too many emotions that I couldn’t control. I have to think about it and learn. Right now, what I think is that I don’t change and that’s the problem. I can’t sit here after every defeat and not have been able to change the match. I have to improve it.

A possible backlash for the lost Olympic gold? I don’t think about it too much. It was difficult for me in the moments that followed. About an hour after the match, but then I saw that winning the silver was a great result. I was proud of it. Instead, I feel that here I have taken steps backwards with my mind. I don’t know why. I came from a spectacular summer but I came here and I took them backwards. Mentally I’m not well, I’m not strong. That’s a problem. I don’t want to say anything right now. I want to talk to my team and see what steps to take now.”