Carlos Alcaraz secured a spot in the Barcelona Open quarterfinals with a 2-0 victory over Laslo Djere. However, the real headline came during his post-match press conference, where the World No. 2 delivered a heartfelt message about the toll social media and negative commentary can take on athletes, inspired by Sara Sorribes’ decision to take an indefinite break from tennis.
Sorribes, a Paris 2024 Olympic medalist, announced via social media that she would step away from tennis indefinitely to protect her mental and physical health. Addressing the situation, Alcaraz expressed empathy for Sorribes while highlighting the broader challenges players face.
“People—and we as players too—pay a lot of attention to social media,” Alcaraz explained. “Unfortunately, we focus more on the negative than the positive, and it affects us. Tennis is a very demanding sport, and it’s nonstop week after week. You don’t realize you need to stop until you’ve reached a point where a few days off aren’t enough, and you need much longer”.
Alcaraz reflected on his personal experience, noting how taking a brief break after a disappointing first-round loss to David Goffin at the Miami Open helped him reset mentally.
David Goffin of Belgium meets Carlos Alcaraz of Spain after defeating him during Day 4 of the Miami Open. (Al Bello/Getty Images)
“Thankfully, I’ve never had to take an indefinite or extended break. I only needed a few days off, and it helped me,” he said. “After Miami, I knew I needed to disconnect for a few days to clear my mind and focus on what truly matters. It really helped me prepare for the clay court season, starting with Monte-Carlo“.
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He also offered words of encouragement to Sorribes during this challenging period. “It’s a shame to see someone as cheerful as Sara having to step away from tennis. I hope we’ll see her back soon, competing and fighting because she’s a warrior,” Alcaraz added.
Alcaraz on his day off at the Barcelona Open
Alcaraz emphasized the importance of taking breaks in the grind of professional tennis, sharing that his decision to take a day off before his match against Djere was crucial to staying fresh.
“It was very necessary,” he admitted. “I didn’t think about tennis at all yesterday. I completely disconnected—didn’t come to the club, didn’t see the usual faces—and it helped me recharge for today. That break was much-needed“.
Reflecting on his victory
The four-time Grand Slam champion acknowledged an improvement in his level of play compared to his opening-round match against Ethan Quinn. Alcaraz also underlined the importance of winning in straight sets to conserve energy for the later rounds. In the next round, Alcaraz is set to face Alex de Miñaur in what promises to be one of the tournament’s marquee matchups.
“Winning in two sets is the best way to save energy,” he said after notching his 12th consecutive win in Barcelona. “I played better today than in the first round, even though I had to come from behind in the second set. My opponent stepped up in the second, but I’m happy I managed to raise my level. Hopefully, I can keep it going”.
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