Alcaraz fighting his nerves in high-stress IW return

Carlos Alcaraz has confessed that he was shaken by nerves as he escaped a possible upset start to his title defence at the Indian Wells Masters.

Spain’s ATP No. 2 has been hobbled by injuries – the latest an ankle roll just a fortnight ago in Brazil – which have left the 20-year-old desperately short of matches.

His 6-7 (5), 6-0, 6-1 Friday night fightback to hold off Italian Matteo Arnaldi  was a near-miss warning of the job ahead over the coming days at the Tennis Garden.

Alcaraz confessed that nothing went his way at the start: “I was nervous in the first set, but in the second and the third set it was totally different.

“I pulled away in the match, I tried to be myself with a lot of energy, hitting good shots, moving well. 

“I think my game – my good game – came out when my energy was high.”

The second seed said that playing a night match in the fickle desert conditions is 180 degrees removed from day hitting in the sunshine.

“I was practising every day during the day, with the sun out and the heat. (The bounces) are totally different… that cost me like the entire first set.”

Alcaraz, who has not won a title since Wimbledon eight months ago, is becoming prey for his rivals, who have figured out the game of the Iberian powerhouse.

“I have to deal with it, but I didn’t deal with the nerves very well in the first set, moving, moving differently, hitting the ball differently.

“My game is to play aggressive all the time.”

Main photo:- Carlos Alcaraz rolled his ankle in Rio