Forty-three days after their last meeting, the Murcian talent Carlos Alcaraz returned to competition and faced a tough hurdle, losing to the Russian Andrey Rublev with scores of 2-6 and 1-6 at the Abu Dhabi show tournament. The match underscored that Alcaraz needed more shots and sharper coverage as he began the new season, signaling a work-in-progress phase rather than a finished form as he stepped back onto the court.
The world number one carried the weight of recent results into his return. After an earlier retirement due to intercostal discomfort in his final match before the break, he faced another setback in Paris, where he fell to the Danish young star Holger Rune at the Masters 1000 event. The setback did not erase the sense that a period of adjustment was ahead, a natural part of bouncing back to peak fitness and consistency.
Abu Dhabi, celebrated as the starting point for Alcaraz to carry over last year’s momentum, was placed in the spotlight during the pre-season. In the lead-up, less than two weeks before what should have been a seamless season, the Spaniard from Murcia admitted on television that he was still living a dream he hadn’t expected to experience again. The sentiment reflected the pressure and excitement surrounding a young player who had already delivered so much in a short period.
During the week, Alcaraz’s support system received recognition as his coaching team received two ATP awards. Juan Carlos Ferrero was named best coach of the year, while another award highlighted a player’s marked improvement in 2022. The accolades reinforced the feeling that the team surrounding Alcaraz was laying the groundwork for sustained success, beyond a single match or season, and underscored the collaborative effort behind his progress.
Back in Abu Dhabi, Alcaraz found himself up against a tough opponent who had defeated Croatia’s Borna Ćorić the day before, delivering a pace that proved more demanding than expected for the top seed. Rublev came out firing, breaking Alcaraz’s serve early in the second game. Although the Spaniard responded promptly, he could not convert the two quick opportunities during a timeout and the opening set looked challenging from the start, finishing 6-2 in Rublev’s favor. The first set had already established a difficult rhythm for the young star, and the match unfolded with Rublev maintaining the upper hand throughout.
In the second set, Alcaraz’s rhythm remained unsettled, and Rublev pressed on with relentless accuracy. The Russian did not spare his opponent, winning point after point and sealing the match with a clear, decisive scoreline. After the match, Alcaraz spoke to the media, reflecting on the long layoff and the month-and-a-half gap since Paris. He described the process as demanding but exhilarating, noting that he was grateful to be back on court among the world’s best and eager to resume his preparation for the season ahead. His comments captured both the pressure and the motivation he feels as he returns to competition with eyes on improvement and consistency.
Looking ahead, Alcaraz planned to continue his pre-season demonstrations before heading to Melbourne. His schedule included a short run from January 10 to 12, followed by the Australian Open, which was set to begin on January 16 and run through January 29. The Australian campaign would represent a key milestone in the early part of the year, offering a chance to reaffirm form, test development, and set the tone for the season to come, as the Murcia native prepared to translate training into competitive results on the global stage.