Mats Wilander thinks Carlos Alcaraz needs to play fewer drop shots when he is up big and needs to practice finding ways to get off the court as quickly as possible when he has a strong lead.
On Thursday, third-seeded Alcaraz saw off Federico Coria 6-2 6-1 7-5 to progress into the US Open third round.
Alcaraz was up by two sets and a 4-1 lead in the third set as everything was suggesting that he would easily get the job done in three sets.
But Coria refused to quit as he broke back Alcaraz and even had five break points in the ninth game, which could have given him a 5-4 lead and a chance to serve out for the third set.
However, Alcaraz was able to hold on to his serve, and break Coria in the 12th game – when the Argentine was serving to stay in the match.
Wilander to Alcaraz: Practice trying to get off the court as quickly as possible
“When you look at him from the outside I think that is what it is [lack of concentration], but he says Coria was playing really well. It’s easier to play really well when you’re two sets to love and 4-1 down. You’re taking big risks,” Wilander said on Eurosport. “He throws in a drop shot here and there, sometimes they work sometimes they don’t. I just think at this stage in his career he needs to practice trying to get off the court as quickly as possible. Maybe play aggressive, but the drop shots to throw it in. I’m so afraid of people hitting too many drop shots. As you know it’s not necessarily a decision you make up here, it’s a decision you make with your arm sometimes and you think ‘oh my god why did I hit a drop shot?’ I don’t want him to completely stop because I love watching him play because of the drop shots so it’s a catch-22.”
In the US Open third round, Alcaraz plays Jenson Brooksby.