Carlos Alcaraz reveals questions he asked Andre Agassi and tennis icon’s answers

Carlos Alcaraz used his time with Andre Agassi to ask the tennis legend a few questions as the 20-year-old wanted to know how the American tennis icon handled things like dealing with the pressure and managing to stay at the top over an extended period of time. 

Before the opening Masters 1000 event of the season in Indian Wells, Alcaraz made a stop in Las Vegas to participate in the first-ever tennis match that was streamed live on Netflix. While in Las Vegas, Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal were greeted and hosted by former world No. 1 Agassi, who is very familiar with Sin City since he has been residing there permanently with his wife Steffi Graf since retiring in 2006. 

Alcaraz, who is expected to be the next big thing and a player who would land multiple Grand Slams, wasn’t wasting any time with Agassi as he wanted to find out what was the American’s secret to winning eight Slams and being a top player for many years. 

“Well, I ask him for a few tips, a few things about how he was doing during his career, how he dealt with the pressure or how he stayed at the high rank or the high intensity during almost his whole career,” Alcaraz said on Tennis Channel. 

“He told me that ‘you have to give your 100 percent every day, or if you feel at your 80 percent, you have to give you 100 percent of that 80 percent. He told me the importance of every day. You cannot miss nothing in a day.”

After his commanding third round win, @carlosalcaraz is feeling healthy and ready to go 💪

He stopped by the TC Desk to talk about his performance and his time with tennis legend @AndreAgassi in Vegas.#TennisParadise pic.twitter.com/J8nLj6zhpV

— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) March 11, 2024

Agassi on what’s the next step in Alcaraz’s career

For many years, no young players were able to emulate the Big Three in achieving major success at a young age. But when Alcaraz showed up, that changed as the 20-year-old Spaniard already has two Grand Slams and has already spent 36 weeks at the world No. 1 spot.

But since winning his second Grand Slam in a very impressive way at 2023 Wimbledon, Alcaraz hasn’t won any titles. While Alcaraz has had certain injury troubles since then, it also seems that the pressure and expectations have finally gotten to him and the fact that he became an even bigger target didn’t help either. 

In Las Vegas, Agassi offered some advice to Alcaraz, suggesting that finding that one major weapon to rely on in the key moments could be what he needs to win some matches easier but also get over the hump in those tight battles.

“When I look at Alcaraz’s ability to bring such an upside, he will struggle with keeping the reins on and not necessarily having to do more than he needs to, in the majority of his matches,” Agassi said during the Netflix Slam.

“All greats figure out what their game is built on and they rely on that in the biggest moments. I still question if Carlos has figured out what he’s going to rely on to create that consistent pressure for his opponent that gives him the highest percentage of locking something down. He might serve, volley he might his first ball drop, he can do all of it.

“He’s going to find it, he’s only 20. It’s going to be beautiful when he does. I hope it’s soon and often.”

Alcaraz’s Indian Wells title defense starts with two wins

Meanwhile, Alcaraz has won his opening two matches in the desert and he has come four wins away from defending his Indian Wells title. 

Alcaraz, seeded at No. 2, had a first-round bye in the desert before struggling a bit before overcoming world No. 40 Matteo Arnaldi 6-7 (6) 6-0 6-1. After surviving a slight scare in his Indian Wells opener, Alcaraz looked much better in his following match as he ousted former world No. 6 Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-2 6-3.

Through the first three games, no breaks were seen as Auger-Aliassime was 2-1 up. Then, Alcaraz absolutely the remainder of the first set, breaking Auger-Aliassime twice and winning five consecutive games en route to sealing the opener.

After winning the last five games of the first set, Alcaraz also started the second set with an early break and a 2-0 lead. In the ninth game – when Auger-Aliassime was serving to stay in the match – Alcaraz broke the Canadian again to complete his routine two-set win.

For a place in the Indian Wells quarterfinal, Alcaraz will be fighting against 58th-ranked Fabian Marozsan. When Alcaraz and 24-year-old Marozsan met for the first time during last year’s Rome Masters, the Hungarian pulled off a shock 6-3 7-6 (4) win. 

When Alcaraz meets Marozsan again, there is no doubt that the world No. 2 will be determined to make a statement and amends for the loss he suffered 10 months ago to the Hungarian.