Coach Alcaraz comments on Alcaraz's desire to go home: Need to control emotions, aim for full participation in clay season

Samuel Lopez, coach of Carlos Alcaraz, recently shared candid thoughts regarding the Spanish player's controversial behavior at the Miami Open. Lopez stated that the 22-year-old's actions should not be "normalized," but also emphasized that there is no need to "overblow" the incident.

Alcaraz lost to local player Korda in the third round of the Miami Open, exiting early. During the match, visibly low-spirited and frustrated, Alcaraz confessed to his team: "I can't hold on anymore, I want to go home." The emotional outburst of this seven-time Grand Slam champion made headlines across multiple media outlets, prompting his coach Samuel Lopez to finally address the matter.

In an interview with Spanish Eurosport, Lopez said: "Let's put it this way, I think we cannot just let it go and treat it as normal behavior. But I also don't find it particularly surprising. He is 22, and he must understand that such remarks carry significant weight, especially outside the team. Within the team, we know the condition he arrived in Miami with and understand the actual situation at that time."

He further added that Alcaraz certainly needs to learn to control his "emotional impulses," but the whole incident should not be "overinterpreted." "He must try to control these impulses—he has always had them, just less frequently. He especially needs to consider the opponent, the opposing player and their team, and avoid exposing his vulnerability at certain moments. But beyond that, this is also a way for him to release accumulated tension and fatigue. There's really no need to make a big fuss."

Before competing at the Miami Open, Alcaraz had just lost to Medvedev in the semifinals of the Indian Wells Masters. At Hard Rock Stadium, the world No. 1 first defeated Fonseca, then lost to Korda in a three-set battle in the third round.

Alcaraz started the 2026 season perfectly. The 22-year-old began the season at the Australian Open, successively defeating De Minaur, Zverev, Djokovic, etc., capturing his first career Australian Open title, and then won the Qatar Open in Doha.

After consecutive victories, the Spanish player's form dipped during the North American Sunshine Double, failing to reach the podium at both Indian Wells and Miami. Following this disappointment, Alcaraz will shift focus to the clay season, participating in the Monte Carlo Masters from April 4 to 12. As the defending champion, the world No. 1 aims to successfully defend his title.

Before returning to the clay courts, his coach Sam Lopez revealed Alcaraz's tournament schedule for the coming months. After the Monte Carlo Masters, Alcaraz's schedule is packed, and Lopez explained why so many events are planned: "Our initial idea was to play as much as possible, to complete the entire clay tour, you know."

After the Monte Carlo Masters and before the French Open, Alcaraz will also compete in Barcelona, Madrid, and Rome. Lopez believes this will be tough for Alcaraz, especially as Masters events have extended from the traditional one week to ten days.

Lopez added: "But mentally, it might be even more exhausting because, as long as you haven't been eliminated, you can't truly relax during those ten days. However, we will try to adjust and arrange. There's also the Barcelona Open in between; Carlos always has special motivation for that event. Last year I couldn't go to Madrid, but he certainly has special motivation for Madrid too. Then Rome, where he won last year, is the final warm-up."

Lopez indicated that Alcaraz's early exit in Miami is partly why the clay season schedule is so packed: "Our plan is to participate in all. If Miami had gone smoothly with better performance, we might have skipped Monte Carlo. This Monte Carlo will serve as a tuning warm-up event."

Alcaraz faces greater pressure during the clay season because Sinner is closely chasing him in the world No. 1 race. If Sinner wins the Monte Carlo Masters, he will replace Alcaraz as the ATP world No. 1.Source: Tennis Home Author: Spark