Carlos Alcaraz should be heading into this year’s US Open brimming with confidence, regardless of how the Cincinnati Open final goes on Monday.
After all, he has played some brilliant tennis over the last week, in what has been his only tournament played since the Wimbledon final.
Opting to skip Washington and Toronto, it has freed the Spaniard up significantly for relaxation and training, both of which have clearly had a huge impact on his form.
As the Cincinnati Open has gone on, he has only improved, and the expectation is that we will be in for yet another treat when he faces Jannik Sinner again.
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With the US Open, he can hardly do much worse than he did last year, where he suffered a shock exit in just the second round.
Carlos Alcaraz now seems poised to have learnt from those mistakes.
How Carlos Alcaraz reacted to losing early in the 2024 US Open
In fact, it could actually be argued that he has already showcased a willingness to change in the face of such a disappointment, outlined through what he said straight after that defeat to Botic van de Zandschulp.
Speaking to reporters, he admitted: “[The North-American swing] was a tour that I hoped would be better. I haven’t managed to play at the level I would have liked.
“But in the end, it’s very difficult to perform at the level you want every day, and you have to be prepared to accept things as they come.
“I think I lacked preparation after a very intense summer, with few days of rest, disconnection and training for the American tour and to get there in the best possible way. It’s an experience from which to learn for the future.”
It has taken him less than 12 months to prove just how much he has learnt from the errors of 2024.
Carlos Alcaraz has learnt from his mistakes
After all, his heavily reduced training schedule for this North American swing of the tour has clearly borne fruit, especially when comparing his Cincinnati performance year on year.
Last year, he again was defeated early, beaten by Gael Monfils in one of the most baffling Alcaraz displays in recent memory.
He cut an uncharacteristically furious figure, and even obliterated his racket as he bowed out in just the Round of 32.
Whilst the schedules are no different this year compared to the last, how the 22-year-old has spent his time off has clearly had a huge impact on his performances, having now reached the final at the Cincinnati Open.
Speaking ahead of his return to this event, Alcaraz admitted: “Just being with friends, with family. Having three weeks at home in the summer was something I couldn’t believe.”
This relaxation has inspired newfound confidence and composure during what i usually one of the most gruelling periods of the tour.
It will be really interesting to see how this translates into the US Open, especially given Alcaraz has an added incentive to beat Sinner in Monday’s final with a rankings opportunity arising.