When a player’s level drops, everyone looks at the obvious things.

Forehand.
Serve.
Tactics.

👉 But the real problem is often somewhere else.

Greg Rusedski touched on something uncomfortable:

👉 maybe Alcaraz is simply playing too much.

THE WRONG BELIEF: “MORE PLAY = MORE IMPROVEMENT”

In tennis, there’s a dangerous idea:

more matches = more progress.

It sounds logical.

But at a high level, the opposite often happens.

👉 the more you play without recovery, the more your quality drops.

Not just physically.
Mentally.

WHAT YOU DON’T SEE: MENTAL FATIGUE

This isn’t just about legs.

It’s about your mind.

Constant travel.
Endless pressure.
Media obligations.
Expectations.

👉 You never truly switch off.

And when you don’t switch off…

👉 you never fully recover.

THE BIGGEST RISK (AND IT COMES SILENTLY)

At first, you don’t feel it.

Then something shifts.

Less energy.
Less clarity.
Less enjoyment.

👉 And most importantly: less hunger.

Not because you don’t care.

👉 Because you’re saturated.

THE PROBLEM WITH EARLY SUCCESS

Alcaraz is young.

But he has already lived more than many players do in an entire career.

Titles.
Global pressure.
Massive expectations.

👉 And that accelerates everything.

Including mental fatigue.
Including the risk of burnout.

WHAT RUSEDSKI IS REALLY POINTING AT

This is not just about the schedule.

👉 It’s about decisions.

Exhibitions.
Off-court commitments.
Lifestyle balance.

All of it is understandable.

But at that level…

👉 every energy you spend has a cost.

THE REAL BALANCE (THAT MOST PLAYERS NEVER FIND)

You don’t have to choose between living your life and performing.

👉 You have to learn how to manage both.

Real recovery.
High-quality training.
Mental space.

Without this balance…

👉 your level won’t hold over time.

THE LESSON FOR PLAYERS, COACHES, AND PARENTS

This isn’t just about Alcaraz.

It happens at every level.

Players who:

play too much
train constantly
never recover

👉 and think that’s the right path.

It’s not.

THE TRUTH

You don’t improve by doing more.

👉 You improve by managing better.

FINAL TRUTH

👉 In high-level tennis, the real issue isn’t how much you work. It’s how well you recover.

📩 Want to learn how to manage energy and perform under pressure?

👉 https://patreon18.aweb.page/master-pressure-games

Federico Coppini
Mental Coach & Tennis Coach
Founder – Coppini Tennis Academy
🎾 https://www.coppinitennisacademy.com