Carlos Alcaraz admits he lost ‘focus’ during his Wimbledon final defeat to Jannik Sinner after being called out for a lack of concentration.
Alcaraz won the first set against his rival on Sunday – before Sinner came out on top in the next three to land his first trophy at the All England Club.
The Spaniard was attempting to become the first man to win his first six Grand Slam finals since Roger Federer in 2005 but fell short in the end.
During the match, at the start of the third set, Todd Woodbridge highlighted Alcaraz’s ‘wavering’ concentration levels while on BBC commentary duties.
Alcaraz admits he lost ‘focus’ during final
In his post-match press conference, Wimbledon runner-up Alcaraz said: ‘[Sinner] was pushing me to the limit with every point.
‘So mentally, sometimes, it’s really tough to maintain good focus or a good level during the whole match when you see the opponent just playing such great tennis.
‘At some points I didn’t know what I had to do in the match because from the baseline I was feeling he was better than me, and I couldn’t do anything about it.’
Alcaraz says he was struggling with ‘nerves’
Alcaraz, who won Wimbledon back-to-back in 2023 and 2024, also admits he was struggling with ‘nerves’ during his showdown with rival Sinner.
‘I mean, today was complicated a little bit,’ Alcaraz added. ‘You know, low percentage of first serve. Then I played against one of the best returner on tour, without a doubt.
‘It was a weapon that I wish it could be better, but today it was… I mean, with the nerves and everything, it was difficult to serve better. I just have to improve that, yeah, absolutely.’
Alcaraz sad but leaving London with ‘head high’
Alcaraz is ‘sad’ about losing the Wimbledon final and being denied three titles in a row – but the 22-year-old world No.2, a five-time major champion, says he is leaving south west London with his ‘head really high’.
‘It’s always a bad feeling losing matches,’ Alcaraz continued. ‘I think it’s a little bit even worse when you lose in a final.
‘Overall I’m just really proud about everything I’ve done, the last four weeks on grass here in London.
‘I just leave Wimbledon, I just left the court with the head really, really, really high because that I just did everything that I could today.
‘Just I played against someone who played an unbelievable game. So just a little bit sad about losing, but with the head really high.’