Carlos Alcaraz has experienced a recent decline in performance, struggling to make an impact at both Sunshine Double tournaments.
Entering Indian Wells as the two-time defending titleholder, Carlos Alcaraz was unexpectedly defeated by Jack Draper in the semi-finals with a score of 1-6, 6-0, 4-6.
Attempting to recover in Miami, Alcaraz lost his first match against David Goffin, suffering an unexpected defeat to the world number 55.
Alcaraz will now head to Europe to compete on clay and grass as the ATP season continues to unfold.
The world number three has previously voiced concerns about the demanding tennis schedule, indicating that it might be ‘killing’ players.
Andre Agassi’s Scheduling Concerns in 2002
In 2002, American Andre Agassi won the inaugural Madrid Open and was asked about issues he wished to see addressed in tennis after his title win.
“Tennis is an incredible sport that positively impacts lives by promoting health, lifelong play, and competitiveness. It allows players of varying skill levels to enjoy matches depending on their opponents,” he stated.
He added, “Although tennis will always be recognized as a major sport, certain adjustments could help public engagement, especially regarding the scheduling of tournaments leading up to significant events.”
Agassi also remarked that a proper off-season allows fans to anticipate upcoming tournaments, emphasizing that scheduling challenges need to be addressed.
Agassi’s Triumph at the First Madrid Open
During the inaugural Madrid Open, nine former and future Grand Slam champions were in contention.
- [2] Andre Agassi – Eight-time Grand Slam winner
- [3] Marat Safin – 2000 US Open, 2005 Australian Open winner
- [5] Juan Carlos Ferrero – 2003 French Open winner
- [8] Carlos Moya – 1998 French Open winner
- [9] Yevgeny Kafelnikov – 1996 French Open, 1999 Australian Open winner
- [10] Andy Roddick – 2003 US Open winner
- [12] Roger Federer – 20-time Grand Slam winner
- [15] Thomas Johansson – 2002 Australian Open winner
- [WC] Gustavo Kuerten – 1997, 2000, 2001 French Open winner
Agassi shone brightly in this esteemed field, reaching the final after notable victories.
| Round | Opponent | Score |
| SF | Sebastien Grosjean | 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 |
| QF | Juan Carlos Ferrero | 6-3, 6-2 |
| 3R | Feliciano Lopez | 7-6, 6-7, 7-5 |
| 2R | Jan-Michael Gambill | 6-4, 6-4 |
Agassi was set to play against Czech star Jiri Novak in the final, but the 11th seed withdrew due to injury, awarding Agassi the title.
After the match, Agassi expressed disappointment over winning the title without actually playing in the final.
“It’s disappointing for many, especially for Jiri [Novak], because it is unfortunate that such incidents occur,” he remarked.
“It also lets down the tournament, which ends up feeling anticlimactic.”
Agassi only returned to the Madrid Open once more in his career, getting eliminated by Marat Safin in the 2004 semi-finals.
He remains the only American champion of the tournament, a statistic likely to change in 2025 when players like Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul are expected to compete in Spain as the tournament begins on April 21.
