Carlos Alcaraz is “a thousand miles away” from matching Rafael Nadal’s mental tenacity, according to a harsh assessment released following his quarter-final loss at the Australian Open last week.
World No. 3 Alcaraz was defeated 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 by Novak Djokovic in Melbourne, postponing his attempt to complete the Career Grand Slam until at least 2026.
Djokovic struggled physically throughout the match and, while winning, retired due to a hamstring injury in his semi-final against Alexander Zverev.
Some criticized Alcaraz after his defeat for failing to capitalize on his opponent’s obvious troubles.
The most recent to do so is Italian tennis legend Paolo Bertolucci, who spoke on Sky Sports Italia.
Bertolucci, a former world number 12 and Davis Cup champion, argued that Alcaraz could have won the match but lacked the mental toughness of his idol Nadal.
“Alcaraz is sleeveless like Nadal, he plays differently, but he is a thousand miles away from Rafa in his head,” said Bertolucci.
“He should have gone 2-1 in the match with Nole and probably would have brought the match home.”
Adding to Bertolucci’s criticism of Alcaraz was Adriano Panatta.
The former world No 4 and 1976 French Open champion said that Alcaraz “must be at a level” where he can no longer lose to Djokovic at Grand Slam level.
“Mentally he [Djokovic] crushes anyone, the other one took the bait with all his boots,” added Panatta. “Novak is a great champion, phenomenal, nice or unpleasant, it’s subjective.
“But even a set tied, with Djokovic, he can no longer lose. He can no longer afford to lose against Novak. He was defeated in Paris two out of three but it was something special, a final on clay at the Olympics.
“Three out of five, Alcaraz must be at a level that he should no longer be beaten by Nole.”
Alcaraz has won both of his Grand Slam finals against Djokovic, beating the Serbian in back-to-back Wimbledon finals in 2023 and 2024.
Djokovic got the better of the Spaniard at the French Open in 2023 and now their most recent meeting in Melbourne, meaning they hold two wins apiece in their head-to-head at majors.
However, Djokovic now holds a 5-3 advantage in their rivalry, having triumphed in both their Olympic gold medal match and their Australian Open contest following Alcaraz’s SW19 triumph last July.
Alcaraz was hoping to become the youngest man in tennis history to complete the Career Grand Slam in Melbourne, but he has failed to advance past the quarterfinals in the Australian Open.
If the four-time Grand Slam champion wins all four majors in 2026 or 2027, he will still be the youngest player to do so.
