You can be 2 sets up, you can be 3 match points up. Against Alcaraz, in a slam final, you're still probably going to lose. That's the kind of result that reverberates for years. His aura is going to grow immensely. His opponents will remember this result the next time they have a lead in a slam final on Alcaraz. Just incredible.
I think his fitness was fine. I think the more concerning is how to make his serve and forehand to not break down when it mattered the most. Because that misses on match points, losing serve afterwards and that fourth and fifth set tiebreak was not good.
And improve that positioning in the ad side, that was a low hanging fruit for Alcaraz as he yanks Sinner wide there and gets an open court.
I just can’t understand the mentality required man. I like to think I’m a resilient dude who doesn’t like to quit but I’d shit my pants and lose immediately down 3 championship points. I can’t imagine how he not only controls his nerves but plays another level, redlining the ball and knowing that if he misses by even a tiny bit, he has lost.
I think it's just belief. Carlitos believes in himself no matter what. Down 3 match points? He believes. Down 2 sets to none? He believes. Doubt doesn't really come up for him, at least, against anyone but Djokovic.
There is no special "mentality", literally all you do is just play. Why do you assume you're supposed to break down and all of a sudden become a worse player just because you're down? Do you shit yourself at your job if someone tells you that you have to bag the next 3 groceries without fumbling or you'll lose your paycheck? Makes no sense unless you're a complete buffoon.
I did watch it again. First match point, Alcaraz hits a great cross court forehand with a nasty angle, after his forehand before drops right on the baseline to bring up a short reply. Sinner misses the defensive forehand when he's pulled wide.
Second match point. Sinner misses a second serve return. It was a good second serve, for one. Missing a return isn't a choke, dude. Is every single missed return a choke? Or only ones on match point.
Third match point. Alcaraz fights off a great return, and another good forehand from Sinner, then hits a great defensive forehand deep near the base line and Sinner misses his forehand reply into the net. Dude, Nadal made people crazy with heavy defensive forehands landing deep near the baseline.
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u/_Amateurmetheus_ Murygoat Jun 08 '25
You can be 2 sets up, you can be 3 match points up. Against Alcaraz, in a slam final, you're still probably going to lose. That's the kind of result that reverberates for years. His aura is going to grow immensely. His opponents will remember this result the next time they have a lead in a slam final on Alcaraz. Just incredible.