Carlos Alcaraz and breaking records? Yeah, that’s practically a match made in tennis heaven. At just 21, the Spanish powerhouse has ticked off achievements most players only dream of. From clay to grass, he’s conquered it all — well, almost. However, one box is still left unchecked. A title on indoor hard courts. But guess what? Alcaraz is close to making that happen, and let’s just say, he’s brimming with confidence.

The Spanish tennis sensation has qualified for the final match of the Rotterdam Open and will take on Australia’s Alex de Minaur on February 9. His last match was against Hubert Hurkacz, where despite losing the second set, Alcaraz managed to clinch a dominating victory. Now, as he gears up for the final, Alcaraz seems to be confident and is aiming to silence the doubters with a strong message.

Speaking to the press after reaching the summit clash in Rotterdam, Alcaraz opened up on his desire to win his first Indoor title and become the first Spanish player to do so. “It’s my first time in Rotterdam, and it feels like I’ve been coming here for years due to the love and support I’m receiving. Additionally, knowing that no Spanish player has won here motivates me,” he said. Continuing further, the Spaniard hinted that he aimed to clap back at those critics who doubted his potential on the indoor hard courts.

“It’s my first indoor final, something special because there has been a lot of talk about my performances on these types of courts, so tomorrow is a good opportunity to show that I can indeed play well in these conditions,” he added, per Punto de Break. Notably, Alcaraz’s records on the hard court in general have also remained quite concerning.

Alcaraz has previously been to the semifinals at three indoor tournaments – Vienna in 2021, Basen in 2022, and the ATP Finals in 2023. However, he was stopped by his opponents on all three stages. Interestingly, even the experts of the game have raised questions about his tactics on the hard courts.

Commenting on Alcaraz’s performance on the indoor hard courts in an interview with the French publication Lequipe, the former pro-Julien Varlet highlighted his challenges. “On this surface, he does not have the right tactics. He plays point by point. It is a bit messy,” he said. 

Similar views came from Roger Federer’s former coach Ivan Ljubicic as well, who said, “Alcaraz hasn’t convinced me on the inside courts yet. He has a very high level on hard courts, but on indoor courts, even in Turin last year, he suffered a lot.” But now, Alcaraz has a good chance to prove his mettle also because he has never lost against the other Rotterdam finalist Alex de Minaur. The two matches that they have played against each other have both gone in Alcaraz’s favor.

However, besides his previous setbacks on the indoor courts, a different challenge lies ahead for Carlos Alcaraz in the Rotterdam Open finals, and it’s all about his health. 

Carlos Alcaraz opens up on his health woes ahead of Rotterdam showdown

Carlos Alcaraz has high chances of lifting the title in Rotterdam and creating history but there are challenges too. One of the major roadblocks that he needs to overcome is his health which has troubled him quite a lot of late. Ahead of the final, Alcaraz revealed that he’s still not 100%.

The 21-year-old arrived in Rotterdam with a cold that posed serious challenges. He has been seen wearing a nose strip throughout the tournament to increase the flow of air through his nostrils and help him breathe. While he has made significant improvements, Alcaraz admitted, “I’m still not at 100%.” When quizzed about his nose strip, the Spaniard hinted that fans might see him wearing it again during the final. 

“It helps me breathe, but I do use it as a superstition. If I started the week with it, I finish with it,” he added. It will be interesting to see if Alcaraz can overcome the challenges and win his first indoor titles. Will Alex de Minaur let it happen? Well, only time will tell.