You don't have to be a star every day," Alcaraz's confessions about dealing with criticism
Under the spotlight from a very young age, Alcaraz has had to cope with a fair share of criticism. While it affected him at first, the Spaniard learned to manage it with the help of a psychologist. In an interview with La Gazzetta, the world No. 2 opened up in detail about how he has trained his mind to handle the pressure that comes with being a tennis star.
"I’ve been working with her (the psychologist) for about five years now, and it’s helped me a lot. I really feel the difference compared to the past. Sometimes, I have negative thoughts, but she helps me deal with them. She gave me advice on handling match-related stress, and things have improved a lot.
As I said, it’s all in the mind. But it’s not just a mental thing—it also depends on the match and how you approach it. I try not to overthink it because there was a time when criticism really affected me, and that was a very tough period.
So now, I try not to give too much weight to certain words. Over the years, I’ve realized that every small step counts and that you can learn even from your losses. You don’t have to be a star every day—what matters is staying consistent and always striving to improve. Always.
