Carlos Alcaraz explains why he had to adapt to the conditions in Miami

At the 2024 Miami Open, Carlos Alcaraz got out to a winning start, but following the match, he acknowledged that the conditions were difficult for him.

Alcaraz has participated in the ATP Masters 1000 event in Florida a few times, thus he has experience playing in Miami. He’s had success in the past, having won the previous year and gone deep last year.

Dealing with the conditions can be challenging, though, as they are fairly specialized. In his opening match of the year, he easily defeated fellow countryman Roberto Carballes Baena 6-2 6-1, demonstrating his unwavering form.
Alcaraz did acknowledge that he had some difficulty with the circumstances, though, in remarks made to the media following the game. He faced some issues because Miami has extremely high humidity, far more than other regions.

“Well, everything about it—the balls, the court, and the humidity—was challenging. It was challenging to modify my game for these circumstances. However, I believe I did fairly well. I’m rather pleased with how I performed.”

“It was incredibly difficult for me physically. 6-2, 6-1. It felt like a third set, a very drawn-out battle. Extremely pleased with the level at which I hit the ball and completed the puzzle. Hopefully, continue.”

Players have passed out on Miami courts before, so these kinds of incidents are not unusual. Both Jack Draper and Arthur Cazaux, who passed away this past week, fainted a few years ago. Given that Matteo Berrettini almost passed out during his match against Andy Murray, the circumstances may be quite difficult to handle.

The battle for Alcaraz took place late at night, which helped to at least moderate the heat, although the humidity remained high. He will need to adjust in the next days, but the more matches he plays at the event, the better off he should be. Gael Monfils will be his next opponent.