It’s that time of the season again. A grand indoor spectacle where the world’s best gather under the bright lights: no sunlight, no wind, no excuses. Yet, for Carlos Alcaraz, this transition from open skies to closed arenas remains a strange affair. Why does indoor tennis become an Achilles heel for the all-terrain wonder, though?

As the 2025 ATP Finals kicked off, the 22-year-old Spaniard didn’t shy away from admitting the discomfort he still felt. Carlos Alcaraz has lost 14 times on indoor hard courts. A 68.9% win rate. He has managed to win only one title on this surface, which came earlier this year at the Rotterdam Open. Last year, Alcaraz admitted that he is not too bad indoors, but there are plenty of players who are better than him on this surface. This year at the Paris Masters, he was seen complaining about the courts by drawing a comparison, saying, “This is clay, it’s worse than in Monte Carlo.”

Now, after getting off to a winning start at the ATP Finals, Alcaraz revealed why playing indoors is a big challenge. “Well, I’m Spanish, I’m from Murcia, where it’s sunny almost 365 days per year. Playing indoors for me is kinda weird, as I’m just not used to it, but I’m getting used to it,” he told Sky Sports.

Alcaraz equalled Jannik Sinner’s record of winning 14 matches against Top 10 opponents this season with his 7-6 (5), 6-2 win over Alex de Minaur in the ATP Finals. This was his 68th win of the season. Apart from a few ups and downs, it has been a spectacular campaign for the Spaniard (he won 8 titles, including 2 Grand Slams in 2025). It’ll be interesting to see if he can add his ninth in Turin or not!

But talking about the perks of playing indoors, he added, “The people are louder and the energy is even more, which is great. You can play with the lights in some situations, and it looks cool with the walk-ons and during the matches. It’s great, but I just have to get used to it.”

Before his honest statement about indoor conditions, multiple veterans were trying to uncover the reasons behind the dip in his performance. American legend Andy Roddick suggested that the winter darkness may be a factor in Alcaraz’s less-than-conventional form when he plays in October and November. He also spoke about how Alcaraz often relies on energy from the crowd and how he loves to perform in front of a jam-packed outdoor arena.

Tennis legend, Justine Henin, raised question marks about his chances at the ATP Finals, saying, “I think there are still some questions for Alcaraz in indoor conditions, even though he seems to have a lot of potential to perform well in those conditions. There’s no way around it; it’s still a hurdle to overcome.”

For a player who thrives under the sun, where his heavy topspin and relentless athleticism can wear opponents down, the sterile, fast-paced nature of indoor conditions strips away some of his magic. The controlled environment neutralizes spin, the bounce stays low, and the rallies are shorter. Not exactly Carlos Alcaraz territory, and his record reflects the same struggle.

Despite conquering almost every major surface in the past few years, Alcaraz’s performances indoors have remained inconsistent. The ATP Finals, in particular, have proven a stern test. Did he have any complaints about the surfaces here in Turin, though?.

Carlos Alcaraz delivers an honest verdict on the conditions in Turin

The win against Alex de Minaur wasn’t just another win under the bright lights. For Carlos Alcaraz, it was a night of rediscovery. A night where the Spanish prodigy finally seemed to find his footing on a surface that has long tested his game. As the crowd roared inside Inalpi Arena, Alcaraz’s dominance looked effortless. His shots zipped through the air. But when the microphones came out after the match, the 22-year-old peeled back the layers on what was actually going on in his mind.

“The speed of the court at the beginning of the week was quite good. A little bit faster than Paris. But after every day, I think after every practice, a lot of practices, points… On the centre court, I think as much as you use the centre court, the faster it gets. I found it today faster, much faster than Paris, which I had to adapt myself, I had to get used to it. To be honest, I think I like it. It’s quite surprising how it can change in just one week, the speed of the court,” said Alcaraz.

With Novak Djokovic’s last-minute withdrawal from the ATP Finals, Carlos Alcaraz is now all set to take on Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti in the next match. Although he was happy to escape the mighty Serbian, winning this duel against Musetti would also be really challenging.

Speaking about the importance of this tournament and his goals, he added, “This year is a little different. I’ve done what’s necessary to get here motivated. I want to play good tennis to try and win this tournament. It’s one of the best we have on the calendar, and you play against the world’s top eight.”

Alcaraz is happy with his level in the opener, but when discussing his twin goals for the 2025 season, the phenom added, “I’m fighting to win the title and the World No. 1 ranking.”

Do you think he can achieve this and end the year on a high note?