Carlos Alcaraz may be one of tennis’ brightest stars, but even champions face moments of doubt.
The 21-year-old, already a four-time Grand Slam champion, admitted he considered stepping away from the game briefly after a crushing early exit at the 2025 Miami Open — a place where he’d previously shined. The loss to David Goffin in the very first round wasn’t just unexpected — it shook him.
Speaking to Marca, Alcaraz reflected on what he called his “rock bottom” moment, opening up about how deeply the defeat affected him.
“In Indian Wells, I thought I was playing well, and I was calm off the court. But the loss to Draper stung. Then I arrived in Miami and lost to Goffin — that was the final straw. We had to stop and really think things through.”
The Spaniard admitted that after Miami, his team gathered to reassess — not just his game, but his mindset. He was honest about considering a break from the tour.
“A lot of thoughts came to mind: stopping for a week, skipping a tournament, taking a full break… When you’re hurting that much, it’s hard to think clearly. But one of the best decisions I made was taking a few days off to reset.”
The emotional toll also showed when Alcaraz had to face the media.
“You could say that was rock bottom. I didn’t even know what I was going to say. It was really tough.”
But true to the spirit of champions, Alcaraz found a way forward. A short family vacation helped him reset, and not long after, he was back on top — lifting the Monte-Carlo Masters trophy and rediscovering the joy in his game.
“That moment taught me a lot. You really learn from tough times. I realized what truly matters in tennis — and I’m sticking to that.”
Now deep into the clay season, Alcaraz is once again finding his rhythm — but his openness about vulnerability is a powerful reminder that even tennis prodigies need time to regroup.
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