Carlos Alcaraz wasn’t happy during his recent practice session at the 2025 US Open. The problem? An invasive camera that wouldn’t leave him alone on the practice court.
The Spanish star came to New York fresh off his Cincinnati title win. It’s pretty amazing preparation for the US Open, especially since this tournament holds special meaning for him.
This is where Alcaraz won his very first Grand Slam back in 2022.
| Name | Age | Points | Stats 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carlos Alcaraz | 22 | 68,791 | 25 - 5 |
The 22-year-old knows the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center pretty well by now. This will be his fifth time playing the New York Slam. But even familiar venues can throw unpleasant surprises at you.
That’s exactly what happened during his practice session with Karen Khachanov. The two top 10 players were hitting balls together, which makes sense since they’re on opposite sides of the draw. They can’t meet until the final.
Everything seemed normal at first. Alcaraz moved from the bench in the middle of the court to one located in a shaded area. Smart move – the direct sunlight in New York can be brutal. He called Khachanov over to join him in the cooler spot.
But here’s where things got annoying.
A camera was positioned directly above their bench. It wasn’t just filming – it was broadcasting live footage and audio. That meant anyone watching could hear every word Alcaraz said to his team.
Think about it from his perspective. Any rival could tune in and overhear his tactical discussions if they wanted to.
Alcaraz quickly figured this out. He stopped his team from discussing any game details, pointing up at the camera above their heads. His displeasure was pretty obvious – you could see he wasn’t thrilled about the lack of privacy.
The practice session continued after that awkward moment. Both players got back to preparing for their first-round matches at the year’s final Grand Slam.
Alcaraz might need to start looking for an unconventional practice partner
Finding the right practice partner isn’t always easy in tennis. Left-handed players struggle with this. So do players who face opponents with monster serves.
Guess which category Alcaraz falls into right now?
His first-round opponent is Reilly Opelka, a guy who relies heavily on his giant first serve. To properly prepare for that kind of power, Alcaraz’s ideal practice partner would probably be Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard. He’s really the only player whose serve could compare with Opelka’s.
But there are other decent options for the Spanish star.
He could choose players like Taylor Fritz or Jakub Mensik. Even Alexander Zverev and Felix Auger-Aliassime would work well to simulate facing someone with a big serve.
The key is getting used to that rhythm and timing. When someone’s serving 140+ mph consistently, you need all the practice you can get.