Carlos Alcaraz faced severe criticism after his quarter-final exit at the Australian Open, with the world No. 2 enduring a sluggish start against Alexander Zverev, ultimately succumbing to a 6-1, 6-3, 6-7(2), 6-4 defeat. Adriano Panatta, former French Open champion, expressed his disapproval of Alcaraz’s performance, stating that the young player is regressing and criticizing his on-court demeanor.
Alcaraz suffered his earliest Grand Slam defeat since Wimbledon 2022, struggling in the first two sets and managing to rally back to win the third set. Despite his efforts, the 20-year-old couldn’t overcome the sizable deficit he created.
Since his notable victory at Wimbledon in July, where he defeated Novak Djokovic in a thrilling five-set final, Alcaraz has failed to secure another title. Panatta believes this lack of success signals a regression in Alcaraz’s career, emphasizing concerns about his attitude.
Panatta, in his La Telefonata podcast, remarked, “Alcaraz hasn’t evolved, but he’s gone a step back. He has a rather bizarre attitude on the court. I don’t see him as determined as he was two years ago.” The 73-year-old criticized Alcaraz for his on-court demeanor, expressing disappointment in the Spaniard’s perceived lack of focus.
Known for his on-court smiles, a trait praised by colleagues, Alcaraz’s demeanor was seen by Panatta as a weakness. Panatta added, “He laughs, he jokes, he doesn’t seem to care. I don’t know what’s wrong with him but, in my opinion, he has yet to decide what kind of player he is. In terms of his head, he is behind.”
In contrast, Panatta highlighted the success of Alcaraz’s contemporary, Jannik Sinner, who defeated Novak Djokovic in the semi-final of the Australian Open, securing a spot in his maiden Grand Slam final. Sinner ended Djokovic’s 33-match winning streak in Melbourne, further emphasizing the contrast between the two young players’ performances.