“I think I played great besides the problem in the ankle,” Carlos Alcaraz had said last month after his second-round win over Zizou Berg at the Japan Open, a tournament he went on to conquer. Yet, his momentum came to a halt as he withdrew from the Shanghai Masters, where qualifier Valentin Vacherot stole the spotlight in an all-cousin final against Arthur Rinderknech. Now, with the Paris Masters looming before the ATP Finals, the Spaniard has finally explained the reason behind his Shanghai absence, a calculated decision rooted in recovery, focus, and the long game ahead.

Ahead of his Paris Masters clash with Cameron Norrie, Carlos Alcaraz stands rejuvenated, sharper, calmer, and more self-aware than ever. The Spaniard, who shocked many by pulling out of the Shanghai Masters earlier this month, now believes that decision was pivotal in his quest to finish the season strong. “It was great,” he said. “Obviously I did not want to withdraw from Shanghai, it is a very important tournament for me and for the players. But I had to hear my body, and I think that I was not ready to play another tournament in a row.”

Those words carry a maturity far beyond his years, a realization that rest can sometimes be the most strategic play. After a demanding season packed with high-intensity battles, Alcaraz chose wisdom over momentum. “So, I just preferred to come back home, recover my ankle and try to be in a good shape for this time of year,” he explained. “I think we could see last year and two years ago that I am not coming fresh to this time of year. I really wanted to put more attention on that, be in good shape and practice well, and coming here thinking that I can get a really good result.”

The Spaniard’s reflection isn’t just about physical recovery; it’s about transformation. “Right now, physically, I am feeling really good, practising well and hitting the ball well. I really want to see myself playing well again here,” he said, his confidence shining through. For Alcaraz, the Paris Masters isn’t just another stop; it’s a test of his evolution, a chance to rewrite his late-season narrative.

Historically, Paris hasn’t been his fortress. The 22-year-old owns a modest 5-4 record at the event, with his best run being a quarter-final finish in 2022, when Holger Rune ended his campaign. The past two seasons have seen early exits, second round in 2023 and third round in 2024, a statistic that fuels his hunger to go deeper this time. Still, the Spaniard has already crossed a major indoor milestone this year by capturing his first indoor title in Rotterdam, a victory that proved he can adapt when it matters most.

Interestingly, the new venue at La Défense Arena has introduced slower courts this year, a change that plays directly into Alcaraz’s hands. “This year is totally different than last year. I think it is a huge difference, which I like,” he said with a grin. “The speed of the court is much slower than last year, but I think it is a really good speed that we can see tennis, not only serve and serve plus one; you can see rallies, you can see points, you can see tennis.”

His appreciation for the change reveals not only his playing style but his philosophy, tennis, for Alcaraz, is artistry in motion. “I’ve said many times that I like slower courts, not that fast. This tournament is not my best one in terms of results, but I love playing here,” he added. “I’m not really used to playing indoors, but year after year, I think I’m getting more used to it. So we will see this year. Hopefully [I] go farther than previous years.”

Already qualified for the Nitto ATP Finals, Alcaraz enters Paris with both relief and determination. The ankle is healed, the rhythm is restored, and his eyes are locked on a bigger prize, reclaiming the ATP Year-End No. 1 presented by PIF for the second time.

And as he steps into the electric hum of Paris, one truth stands out: Carlos Alcaraz has learned that greatness is not just built on power and passion, but on balance. His decision to pause, recover, and reset may just be the defining change behind his sensational late-season resurgence.

Carlos Alcaraz reveals key change fueling his remarkable rise

Recently, an X user named carlosalcarazbr shared a clip from Tennis TV, offering fans a rare glimpse into Carlos Alcaraz’s transformation. The clip revealed what many had long wondered: how the Spaniard turned his serve, once considered his weakest weapon, into a silent force of dominance.

At Wimbledon, his first-serve percentage had dipped to a shaky 58%, exposing a flaw in an otherwise complete game. But just weeks later, at the US Open, that same serve looked like a weapon forged in steel: consistent, confident, and unstoppable.

When asked how he managed such a turnaround amid a relentless schedule, Alcaraz spoke with calm clarity. “Well, for us tennis players, we don’t have to assign, you know, to improve the things that they will really want to improve… I had to do it while playing tournaments, in the practices, making small changes, and it takes time. It is; it is long to take, you know, the right movement, the right feeling. So I’ve been thinking so much about it, about, you know, just getting a really good movement, a really good rhythm…so I’m really happy that myself has improved a lot, because right now I think it’s really important,” he said.

His patience paid off. At the 2025 US Open, Alcaraz lost serve only three times in the entire tournament, a staggering testament to his evolution. Behind the scenes, he had spent the off-season refining the small details, loosening his wrist, softening his motion, and finding that effortless rhythm that defines the best servers in the game.

Now, with the Paris Masters approaching, the stage is set for another showdown. Will Alcaraz’s refined serve carry him to glory or will the Italian second seed rise once more to stop his charge?