Alcaraz shows he’s mortal as tennis races to finish lines in Turin and Cancun

If you are interested in following our new tennis coverage, please click here. Blame it on the post-Grand Slam season hangover or the unique dynamics of the fall pro tennis season, where players have different levels of enthusiasm and priorities. It could also be a result of jet lag from the long journey to the Far East or mental and physical exhaustion during the final quarter of the year. Whatever the reason may be, Carlos Alcaraz, the former world No. 1 and the Spanish prodigy seen as the successor to the ‘Big Three’ in tennis dominance, has recently become more beatable in this last stretch of the tennis season.

Just ten days ago, Jannik Sinner of Italy, who seems to be a top rival for the next decade, made Alcaraz look human at the China Open in Beijing, defeating him 7-6, 6-1. On Wednesday, it was the Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov, a player who was expected to rival the ‘Big Three’ for the past decade, but ultimately fell short, securing a 5-7, 6-2, 6-4 victory at the Shanghai Masters. After the match, Alcaraz seemed a bit shaken by Dimitrov’s relentless fight, especially after he had erased a 5-3 deficit in the first set. “It was a little surprise for me,” said Alcaraz, who admitted that he has been struggling to maintain his focus lately. “When I win the first set, it becomes tough for me to stay focused at the start of the second set.”

At this time of the year, it is difficult to determine the broader implications of these losses. Most likely, they won’t have much impact on Alcaraz’s long-term prospects. Nevertheless, it is an interesting development, particularly with the prestigious Tour Finals just a month away. Fortunately for Alcaraz, he has already qualified for the event, which includes only the top eight players of the year in both men’s and women’s tennis. Usually, the battle for the last spots in the Tour Finals goes down to the wire in the final weeks of the season.

For those tennis fans who tend to lose interest after the U.S. Open, the final Grand Slam of the year, or even question why high-level tournament tennis is played after the U.S. Open, take solace in the fact that you are not alone. Many fans share your sentiment, and there are even players who wonder the same thing. A grueling 11-month season can be overwhelming for even the most devoted fans, so one can only imagine how the players feel, spending most of the year on the road, living out of suitcases, and constantly traveling from one tournament to the next.

But why does the show go on? Well, money is a major factor. More tournaments mean more content, which leads to lucrative media rights deals and sponsorships. Additionally, more tournaments provide players with more opportunities to earn prize money and appearance fees. Another reason is the logistics of getting tournaments to the Far East. Under the current schedule, the autumn in the Northern hemisphere is the only available time slot. Lastly, these tournaments offer a chance for players to secure spots in the Tour Finals. Players who have never qualified for the event see it as validation of their status and consistency throughout the season, not to mention the attractive financial incentives.

The men’s total prize money for the Tour Finals is around $15 million, with the undefeated men’s winner earning nearly $5 million, more than any Grand Slam. The women’s total prize money is $9 million. In years when Rafael Nadal was not sidelined by injury, he could recite the standings of his fellow players on a daily basis, just like Dustin Hoffman’s character in ‘Rain Man’ with his baseball statistics. Sinner, for instance, revealed that making the Tour Finals, and not winning a Grand Slam, was his top goal for the season. Perhaps the location of the tournament in Turin, Italy, plays a part in his determination, as Sinner himself is from Innichen in the northeast of the country.

Some players are running on fumes or dealing with nagging injuries that they don’t want to worsen before a brief off-season. This off-season is sandwiched between national competitions like the Billie Jean King and Davis Cup finals in November, and the United Cup, a mixed team event that kicks off the next season just after Christmas in Australia. As a result, these final weeks of the season are filled with peculiar match-ups, strategies, and consequences. For instance, Alcaraz struggled with his focus against Grigor Dimitrov, who is currently ranked 19th in the world.

On the women’s side, the line-up for the finals in Cancun, Mexico, starting on October 29, is already set and will feature the winners of the four Grand Slams in 2023, as well as Elena Rybakina, Jessica Pegula, Karolina Muchova, and Ons Jabeur. However, injuries to Rybakina, Gauff, Vondrousova, and Muchova might open the door for alternate players. Maria Sakkari and Madison Keys are the next two players in line for qualification.

In comparison, the men’s side is more open, with one more week of competition before the finals start on November 12. There are still plenty of ranking points up for grabs at upcoming mid-tier events in Tokyo, Basel, and Vienna, as well as at the Paris Masters in early November. Currently, only Novak Djokovic, Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev, and Sinner have secured their spots in the Tour Finals. The three players closest to the eighth place, currently held by Holger Rune from Denmark, are Taylor Fritz, Casper Ruud, and Tommy Paul. Although none of these three have recently made it to the final weekends of tournaments, a strong performance in Paris or a few upsets could secure them a ticket to Turin. This time of year is crucial for players, and even a small advantage, such as caring more than the opponent because something significant is at stake, can make a big difference.

“There are a lot of big tournaments left for the rest of the year, a lot of opportunities,” said Paul earlier this week in Shanghai. “I’m excited to play.” Unfortunately, he lost his next match in the round of 16 to Andrey Rublev of Russia. And so the season continues.

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Jessica Roberts

Jessica Roberts serves up the latest in the world of tennis. With a love for the racket sport, she reports on tennis matches, player rankings, and Grand Slam events, ensuring readers stay informed about the tennis world.