Alcaraz's mental revolution to crush all his critics and scare everyone at Roland Garros

Carlos Alcaraz emerged victorious from Rome after crushing Jannik Sinner in the most anticipated Masters 1000 final and defeating Musetti in the semifinals. Two local Italian tennis players faced the crowd on the threshold of the Paris Grand Slam. The Spaniard looked his biggest rival in the eye in the final event before Roland Garros and was a steamroller when the moment of truth came.

The Murcian's response , amid a storm of criticism for his Netflix documentary, was to offer a tremendously solid and convincing account that weathered all the pressure. Thus, the Spanish tennis player grew during the tournament and in the final demonstrated a maturity unbecoming of a 22-year-old . Alcaraz, the best player on clay, never lost his mind, regardless of the strength of his opponent, the scoreline, or the missed opportunities.

The two set points he saved in the first set proved vital and sank Sinner. Alcaraz, in his own way, once again became the opponent to beat at Roland Garros, using top-level tennis skills . There was no trace of the tense self he had displayed previously when things weren't going his way. "Honestly, I feel completely different right now . I approach matches differently, something I'm very proud of," explained the Palmar native after the final against Sinner, where he combined technique and tactical planning.

"I didn't control my nerves like I do now before."

"I found the right path again. Before, during matches, I would get very nervous; I wasn't able to control those nerves as well as I do now. I focused on things that weren't important, on the results, on having to win. Right now , I approach things in a completely different way. I'm happy, proud of what I'm experiencing," Alcaraz added.

Alcaraz won all four sets he played against Sinner and Musetti, including two tie-breaks . But the most remarkable aspect of the match was that the Murcian perfectly understood the different moments of the match. He was relentless at the turning points , such as in the first set against Sinner that tipped the final, and handled the pressure like a veteran. Alcaraz's performance at the Rome Masters 1000 gave him the Italian title.

Carlos Alcaraz himself left a confession after defeating Musetti in the semifinals that explained his process. "Sometimes it's difficult, because when I see the ball coming, a lot of things come to mind. Sometimes it's hard to make the right decision. But I'm trying to improve that part of my game, trying not to overthink it and always doing the right thing, even if it's not a brilliant shot or a brilliant decision," he explained.

The evolution of Alcaraz

After winning the final, Alcaraz emphasized the key to tactics and the wisdom of biding his time. "I know how to play. I have to be prepared and think clearly every time I play a point or a game. I have to think about what I have to do if I make a mistake to continue in the same direction. I knew what I had to do from the start and maintained my strategy throughout the match ," he replied.

"It was very, very tight, serving with set points against us. I knew from the start that all matches with Jannik are very tactical . I started very well, from the first ball to the last. I didn't lose focus, which was very good for me . It was probably one of the best matches I've played so far in terms of level. I'm very proud of that," Alcaraz concluded.