Very often, tennis gets mistaken for just a physical sport. To the average viewer, the one who hits harder and runs faster seems more likely to win. Sure, that matters. But what really separates the greats from the rest? Mental strength. As Carlos Alcaraz once said, “Even if you play the best tennis of your life, you won’t win Grand Slams if you are not strong mentally.” And, the 21-year-old put his words into action—not once, but thrice—at the Monte Carlo Masters. An ATP legend couldn’t help but prop him up for it.

In recent months, Carlos Alcaraz has faced a fair bit of criticism. His approach to tennis has been under the scrutiny after a few unexpected losses. For the first time since 2021, the Spaniard walked away from the Sunshine Doubles without a single title. But as the clay season kicks off, he seems to be back.

Alcaraz entered the Monte Carlo Masters for the first time. And what a debut it was. He powered through the draw and clinched the title. That win didn’t just add another trophy to his shelf, it also bumped him back up to World No. 2. After the final, Alcaraz made it clear that he’s tuning out the noise. “So I just realized that I don’t have to think about all they talking about and just focus on myself,” he said. The 4-time Grand Slam champion is letting his racket do the talking.

Alcaraz showed real grit throughout the tournament. In fact, he came back from a set down in three different matches. His opener against Francisco Cerundolo didn’t start well. He dropped the first set 3-6. But then? Well, Cerundolo was steamrolled 6-0, 6-1 in the next two sets.

Then came Arthur Fils in the quarters. Carlitos lost the first set 4-6 again. And, at 5-5 in the second, he was down 0-40. But he held his nerve. He turned it around to win 7-5 and then closed the match, winning the decider by 6-3. In the final, Alcaraz faced Lorenzo Musetti. Another slow start. Another comeback. He lost the first set 3-6, but then crushed it 6-1, 6-0. Comebacks are becoming common for the reigning French Open champion. And the ATP legend Jimmy Connors has taken note.

Talking to his son Brett on his podcast Advantage Connors, Jimmy talked about Alcaraz’s mental strength. “Keep grinding, because when you keep grinding, the better player that grinds is not always, but a majority of the time is going to come out on top. Because he figures out a way to turn a game that’s only 70 or 80 percent into a winner. That’s the key. You can’t play 100 percent or 110 percent every time. Turning a, you know, a game where you don’t feel right, you know, your game is not in order, you’re a little lethargic, but you still come out and win. That’s what makes a great player, in my opinion,” he said.

This isn’t just a Monte Carlo storyline. Last year, Alcaraz pulled off something similar at the French Open final against Alexander Zverev. He won the first set 6-3, then dropped the next two, 2-6 and 5-7. Most players might fold. Not him. The 21-year-old stormed back to win the last two sets 6-1, 6-2 and took home his first French Open title.

Now he’s looking to defend that title. And based on how things are going, the prep is looking pretty solid.

Carlos Alcaraz secures a spot in the Barcelona Open final

On Saturday, Carlos Alcaraz handled business against Arthur Fils once again in the Barcelona Open semis.. Despite tough windy conditions, he won 6-2, 6-4. The match lasted just 76 minutes, and the Spaniard didn’t even let Fils break his serve once. That’s now nine wins in a row.

This will be Alcaraz’s third ATP Tour final this year after Rotterdam and Monte Carlo. The top seed will be gunning for a three-peat in Barcelona, where he won titles in both 2022 and 2023. He’ll take on Holger Rune in the final.

Rune had to retire from Monte Carlo because of food poisoning. But he’s bounced back in style as he battled Karan Kachanov for a place in the finals. This will be the Dane’s first clay final since Rome 2023. The duo have met each other thrice before, with Alcaraz leading their head-to-head 2-1.  Interestingly, this will be their first clay-court meeting.

The Spanish tennis starlet has shown that his game isn’t just about flashy forehands and quick feet. He’s fighting pressure, noise, and expectations—and still coming out on top. Can he keep this mental edge heading into Roland Garros? What do you think?