Carlos Alcaraz shared his nervousness about last year’s Wimbledon final against Novak Djokovic.
That match was the biggest final he had ever played, and it was a Grand Slam event against one of the greatest tennis players ever. The pressure was immense because Djokovic hadn’t lost on grass for a decade, and Alcaraz wasn’t used to playing on that surface.
Despite starting poorly and losing the first set, Alcaraz managed an incredible comeback. Speaking to the Sunday Times, he admitted feeling very anxious before facing Djokovic. “Nervous? Of course! Before the Wimbledon final last year it was really difficult before coming to the court. I am working with a psychologist [Isabel Balaguer from the University of Valencia] and I told her before the warm-up, ‘I am incredibly nervous!’ I was nervous since breakfast. So two hours before the final I put my headphones on. Calm music, breathing slowly.”
Handling Pre-Match Anxiety:
To calm down, Alcaraz tried various techniques but still felt jittery as he prepared for the match. He lay on a physio table in Wimbledon’s gym looking like he might be sleeping but was actually trying to control his emotions and relax his muscles.
| Name | Age | Points | Stats 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carlos Alcaraz | 22 | 68,791 | 25 - 5 |
“I was in the gym at Wimbledon, lying on a physio table. It probably looked as if I was sleeping but I was just controlling my emotions, trying to calm myself and my muscles.”
Fans might think it’s amazing how even top athletes get so nervous.
“I was there for more than 30 minutes,” he said. “And then when I stepped on the court for the final I was still nervous. But at least I had warmed up well, had planned well, and this helped me to trust myself in the match.”
In conclusion, despite all his nerves and anxiety techniques not fully working out initially, Alcaraz’s preparation paid off as he won that memorable match against Djokovic.
What do you think? How would you handle such big-match nerves?
