Laura Robson offered a detailed breakdown of Carlos Alcaraz's tight defeat to Jannik Sinner in the ATP Finals title match on Sunday night. Former British no. 1 pointed to the physical struggle the Spaniard carried into the court.
While Carlos battled fiercely through the 7-6, 7-5 defeat in two hours and 15 minutes, Robson noted that the match revealed subtle signs of discomfort and a tactical shift caused by his hamstring issue.
Alcaraz entered the final with slight discomfort, and things gone worse after all the efforts against Jannik in the opening set. The 22-year-old asked for a medical timeout and changed his approach.
World no. 1 embraced aggressive tennis and kept the rallies short, leaning heavily on first-strike tennis that carried risks. He stepped in with his pace and explosive strokes, bringing willingness to pull the trigger early in the rallies.
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The Spaniard tried everything and pushed the Italian to the limits. However, he squandered his chances in both sets and settled with the runner-up prize. According to Robson, Carlos' high-stake tennis was a necessity more than a strategy.
Chasing his first ATP Finals crown against his greatest rival, Alcaraz appeared determined to avoid prolonged exchanges versus such a strong opponent. The tape wrappedaround his right hamstring progressively loosened.
It tore as the match intensified, confirming the strain he was under. Despite those issues, Carlos pushed forward and tried to mix up his game against the finest indoor player on the planet.
He went for the rhythm changes anddrop shots to explore the rival's weaknessesand gain control. However, Jannik's determination and focus stood strong, leading him toward the title defense.
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Per Laura, Carlos embraced the moment despite the physical limitations, fighting with ambition and creativity. He threw everything at the home hero, but Sinner's rock-solid performance and superior timing in pivotal moments made him the winner.
Notable losses are always difficult to process. However, Robson found optimism in Alcaraz's approach on his least favorite surface. He relished the battle and stood a couple of points away from making the result completely different.
The Spaniard wasted a set point on the return at 6-5 in the opening set and squandered a 3-1 lead in set number two.
"For me, it felt like the hamstring played a bit of a part. It still looked like he was moving pretty well, but it certainly looked like he was conscious about keeping the points short.
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We saw him go with even more power, sharper returns and more variety, trying to use his drop shot more. The tape on his hamstring played no part by the end of the match; it had gone to pieces down his leg.
We saw him try to do everything, as he had no choice against Jannik. However, he still enjoyed the battle, which is the best part," Laura Robson said.
