"Mentally Carlos Alcaraz is light years away from Jannik Sinner" - Former ATP player Paolo Bertolucci

Former Italian player Paolo Bertolucci recently said Carlos Alcaraz is well behind rival Jannik Sinner when it comes to mental strength.

Alcaraz ended his Australian Open campaign on a disappointing note, as he was knocked out by Alexander Zverev in the quarterfinals. On the other hand, Sinner went all the way in Melbourne to claim his maiden Grand Slam title.

Alcaraz looked sharp in the early stages of the Australian Open, but seemed devoid of ideas in the quarterfinal against Zverev. In the first two sets, the German overpowered Alcaraz with his powerful serves.

The Spaniard fought back in the third set, taking it in a tiebreaker. But Zverev asserted his superiority once again in the fourth set, winning the contest 6-1, 6-3, 6-7(2), 6-4.

The match was a far cry from Alcaraz's stunning victory against Novak Djokovic in the Wimbledon final last year, where he bounced back from a dismal first-set display to clinch his second Major.

Sinner, meanwhile, showed his mental fortitude in the Australian Open final. The Italian looked down and out after Daniil Medvedev convincingly took the first two sets, but the 22-year-old turned the match on its head from the third set onwards.

The stark contrast between Sinner and Alcaraz's performances in Melbourne prompted Bertolucci to suggest there was a flaw in the Spaniard's game. The former World No. 12 said in an interview with Fanpage.it:

"Mentally [Carlos Alcaraz] he is light years away from Sinner. He looks for something else besides the point, many times he seems to be having fun and involving the public because his tennis is made up of special effects."

Bertolucci also warned that Alcaraz's penchant for flair may cost him results in the long run.

"They are beautiful things, which drive you crazy, but sometimes they make you lose games," he said.

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Carlos Alcaraz's dry spell continues with Australian Open disappointment

Carlos Alcaraz at the 2024 Australian Open - Day 11

After Carlos Alcaraz won the 2023 Wimbledon title, the expectations from him skyrocketed. However, he failed to find his best form across the remainder of the season.

The closest the Spaniard came to winning a title following his Wimbledon triumph was at the Cincinnati Masters. However, Novak Djokovic eventually came out on top in a grueling three-set final.

While Alcaraz still finds himself positioned at World No. 2 in the ATP rankings, he hasn't had much luck with title victories lately. Some expect the likes of Daniil Medvedev (World No. 3) and Jannik Sinner (World No. 4) to overtake the Spaniard in the rankings this year.

Luckily for Alcaraz, his coach Juan Carlos Ferrero is back in business and ready to accompany him again. Ferrero missed the trip to the Australian Open due to his rehabilitation following a left knee arthroscopy.