Paris-Bercy marked another tough moment for Carlos Alcaraz as the year nears its end, with the Murcian aiming to finish on a high note. The match against Safiullin exposed a stark reality: the Spaniard struggled to find the rhythm required on a court that seemed to favor his opponent. The Accor Arena felt like a tough hurdle in a season where expectations were sky high for the number one contender.
Before the clash, the forebodings of a lingering physical strain were clear. The discomfort that had sidelined him in Basel persisted and the evidence was immediate. His usual velocity and ball striking were missing, and the court at Accor Arena appeared to disrupt his diagonal game more than once.
After lifting Wimbledon points in Paris, Alcaraz added another loss and could not secure a triumph in any other event since. Following the US Open, his form showed fatigue during several commitments, adding to the sense of a challenging stretch in his schedule.
Beijing, Shanghai, and Paris opened a notably uncertain chapter in Alcarazs short career as he faced a difficult stretch leading into the ATP Finals. Turin loomed as a potential stage to salvage momentum, with the eight best players of the year set to compete, and questions about Alcarazs arrival and readiness grew with each day of buildup.
Is the pursuit of the top ranking becoming a problem for him?
Since Djokovic reclaimed the top spot after the US Open, Alcaraz has pushed to chase a year end surge that could end with him overtaking the Serb in tournament after tournament. The ambition appeared to be more than a simple objective, a goal that sometimes clouded reality as new challenges emerged on the way. The Murcian found himself facing increasingly unpredictable hurdles as the calendar moved forward.
Sinner delivered a memorable performance in Beijing, while Shanghai saw Dimitrov and Safiullin add to Alcarazs struggles, culminating in what many observers called the least successful stretch of the season. In Rome, a surprising defeat to Marozsán highlighted the volatility of the year. He finished second in Paris after a bye into the second round, but the journey through that event underscored how fragile momentum could be.
To Turin with focus and clarity
The recent results meant Alcaraz carried less certainty about reclaiming the number one position in 2023, and this in turn affected his approach heading into Turin. The aim was to arrive ready to compete without the heavy pressure that had clouded recent outings. For Alcaraz, the priority was to refocus and deliver on the ATP Finals, to end the season on a high note and leave behind the tougher moments of the year.
There is a sense that the path ahead requires him to forget the persistent comparison with Djokovic and concentrate on performing well in the Finals. The idea was to finish the season with a strong, confident performance that reflected his best tennis. The event in Turin promised a stage to demonstrate his resilience, though the path there remained uncertain.
The prospect of claiming the title is bold given the season’s history, and the real measure will be how quickly he can reset his mindset and overcome the discomfort that accompanied him through Accor Arena. The best rendition of Carlos Alcaraz might still be within reach as he prepares to close the year with energy and focus, leaving behind the less favorable days that marked the latest chapter of his campaign.