Mats Wilander: Inconsistency will always be a problem for Carlos Alcaraz

Alcaraz has had a mixed start to the 2025 campaign, having amassed a 15-4 record from the five tournaments he has played so far.

The world No 3 started his season by reaching the quarter-finals at the Australian Open, where he lost to Novak Djokovic.

The 21-year-old then won his maiden indoor title at the ATP 500 event in Rotterdam in early February.

Since then, Alcaraz was beaten by Jiri Lehecka in the Qatar Open quarter-finals, Jack Draper in the Indian Wells semi-finals, and David Goffin in the Miami Open second round.

The Spanish star, who is the reigning French Open and Wimbledon champion, is ranked third in the world behind Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev.

Alcaraz is next due to feature at the Monte Carlo Masters, where he will begin his European clay-court swing.

Speaking to TNT Sports, Wilander weighed in on Alcaraz's recent results and the prospect of the four-time Grand Slam winner becoming a more consistent dominant force.

"I think Carlos Alcaraz is going through what Carlos Alcaraz will be going through for the rest of his career, which is that there are going to be inconsistencies," said the Swede.

"He's going to pull off some miracles at times, and then those miracles are going to help him win matches, and he's going to pull off miracles at different times, and he's not going to win the match in the end.

"But obviously, if you lose the result against Jack Draper, the way that it happened is very weird for a top player.

"But I do think in the end, Carlos Alcaraz is going to be quite inconsistent in terms of results. We're so used to not seeing a former world No 1 and most probably a future world No 1 to be that inconsistent."

The seven-time Grand Slam champion also shared his thoughts on Alcaraz's hopes of defending his French Open crown.

"Well, he can bounce back at any time," Wilander continued.

"That's the thing about Carlos Alcaraz. He could bounce back within two weeks because of the way he plays tennis.

"Even though he won the French Open last year, I'm not sure clay is his best surface, but it wouldn't surprise me at all if he goes and wins the French Open again, and does a repeat, because that's the quality that he brings.

"I'm just saying that I think these results will happen here and there. Unfortunately, they have been happening in some Grand Slam tournaments.

"But I do think it's more in the regular tournaments that Carlos Alcaraz will have problems and I do think that he will bounce back and do well at the French Open." 

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