“I couldn’t handle the pressure” – disappointed Alcaraz miffed after loss in Montreal

A disappointed Carlos Alcaraz admitted that he still has a lot of learn when it comes to handling big-time pressure on the ATP Tour.

Tommy Paul (USA) (left) and Carlos Alcaraz (ESP) hug after their matcha in second round play at IGA Stadium. || AI / Reuters / Panoramic

Chris Oddo

August 11, 2022

A tough loss for Carlos Alcaraz, in which he squandered a match point before falling to Tommy Paul in three sets, has left the young Spaniard kicking himself.

The second seed told reporters that he felt the pressure this week in Montreal, and failed to deal with his status as the No 2 seed as he contested his first match of this year’s North American hard court swing.

“I couldn’t create my best tennis here,” he lamented on Thursday, after he dropped a 6-7(4), 7-6(7), 6-3 decision to the 25-year-old American. “But as I said, the first rounds, you have to fight against the opponent and also against yourself. I struggled to deal with those moments knowing that I wasn’t one hundred percent. As you say, I fought against myself.”

It was the first time that I couldn't handle the pressure… I have to be ready to have this pressure, to have this kind of moments, and to learn how to handle it! 💪🏻 pic.twitter.com/dLypEV1Ihg
— Carlos Alcaraz (@carlosalcaraz) August 10, 2022

Alcaraz – I have to train to be ready to handle this pressure

The loss leaves Alcaraz with just one more chance to pick up matches on hard courts ahead of the 2022 US Open. It could have been different, as he blew a 4-1 lead in the second set and even squandered a match point later in the second-set tiebreak.

“I had my chances,” he said. “I was leading from a break in the second set, I had chances to win the match. I would say that I made a lot of mistakes. Of course, he played very well in the important moments. He came back well too. It’s a mix of both: he played very well and I didn’t produce my best tennis.

“All I can say for now is that this is the first time that I failed to manage the pressure. I felt the pressure of being the 2nd seed in this tournament, world No.4. It’s the first time I’ve felt this pressure and I couldn’t handle it. All I can say is that I have to train to be ready to face this pressure, to live these moments and to manage better. That’s all I can say for now.”