In a recent interview with Tennis Channel, Paul Annacone, former coach of tennis legends Roger Federer and Pete Sampras, provided a detailed analysis of Carlos Alcaraz’s performance during the latter part of the season. Annacone pinpointed the Spaniard’s defeat to Novak Djokovic in the final of the Paris Olympics as a pivotal moment that marked a downturn in Alcaraz’s form.
According to Annacone, this loss had a significant emotional impact on the 21-year-old four-time Grand Slam champion. “You have to find what motivates you and stick with it,” he stated. “I think Carlos Alcaraz is a joyful player, but he lost a bit of that joy this year for a multitude of reasons. Only getting a silver medal in Paris—while a great achievement—wasn’t enough for him and broke his heart a little bit. I believe this affected the rest of his summer and the season as a whole.”
Alcaraz began the summer on a high note, winning both the French Open and Wimbledon in succession. Following his first Grand Slam victory at Roland Garros and a successful title defense at the All England Club, he entered the Paris Olympics as a strong favorite for the gold medal. However, in a closely contested final, Djokovic edged out Alcaraz in two tie-breaks, claiming the gold and completing his Career Golden Slam.
Throughout 2024, Alcaraz secured four titles, including the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, the French Open, Wimbledon, and the China Open. He also faced ATP No. 1 Jannik Sinner three times, winning all three encounters. Additionally, Alcaraz reached the final of the Paris Olympics and participated in the Six Kings Slam exhibition, where he lost to Sinner in a non-official match.
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