“One of my best games of the year” – Alcaraz rediscovers best form against Humbert

Carlos Alcaraz is the youngest player in history to triumph on three different surfaces in Grand Slams, the youngest man in the Open era to achieve the Roland-Garros – Wimbledon double in the same year and is an Olympic silver medallist.

It was with this extraordinary record that Alcaraz left Europe for the North American tour. The trophy cabinet was full, but he battery was completely empty both emotionally and mentally.

As Patrick Mouratoglou analysed in more detail in the latest episode of ‘The Eye of the Coach’, the 21-year-old Spaniard was not mentally fresh enough when he crossed the Atlantic.

This was clear when he uncharacteristically smashed his racquet in a first-round exit in Cincinnati against Gael Monfils.

Then comfrotably beaten by Botic van de Zandschulp in the second round of the US Open after confiding that he did not know how to manage his emotions, the Spaniard returned to competition on Wednesday, in the Davis Cup.

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Two days after a convincing opening-match win against Tomas Machac, Alcaraz upped his level against Ugo Humbert.

After that win, he explained that he had come to Valencia as much out of necessity for his own head as for the support of his nation.

“I needed this week, to be with the team, all the players to spend time together, to encourage each other,” he explained during the on-court interview. “I needed this incredible atmosphere in the Davis Cup (at home), to regain a lot of energy.

“I liked my level, from the first to the last point. I stayed very focused.

“It was high-level tennis,” he continued.

“I put a lot, a lot of intensity. I probably played one of my best games of the season. After my last month, I needed this kind of performance.”

By refuelling this week, the irrepressible Alcaraz from this summer could well get the engine back up and running for the end of the season.

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