Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova recently shared her surprising first impression of Carlos Alcaraz during an interview. As the Spaniard gears up for the upcoming ATP Finals, Pavlyuchenkova reflected on her initial thoughts about him.
Pavlyuchenkova concluded her 2025 season after her US Open run ended with a second-round loss to Victoria Azarenka. Currently in her off-season, she appeared on the ‘Box’ podcast, where she discussed various topics including her season, preseason preparation, fashion in sports, her prospects of becoming a coach, and more.
During the podcast (from 39:00 onwards), she opened up about her first impression of Alcaraz, which left her a bit unsure about the young Spaniard.
> “After that, I really took a liking to Alcaraz. Because somehow, well, I don’t really know, I didn’t really like his manner, because it seemed to me that he had a bit of a pretence. He smiles all the time. I think, ‘How is that possible?’ Well, I compare myself — I have just drama there all the time when I play. I think, ‘How is it possible?’ He smiles at his team all the time, it’s too much,” said Pavlyuchenkova.
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Carlos Alcaraz’s latest match was at the Paris Masters, where he suffered an unexpected second-round loss against Cameron Norrie.
Entering the tournament as one of the favorites and the World No. 1, Alcaraz was visibly disappointed by his performance. In the post-match press conference, he openly admitted to his shortcomings and shared his thoughts on the defeat.
> “I had a lot of practices here, which I was feeling great, feeling amazing, moving on the court, hitting the ball. But today, even in the first set, that I won, I just felt like I could do much more than what I did. I didn’t feel well today. A lot of mistakes. I had no feeling at all. I’m really disappointed about my level today, and it is what it is. I have to give credit to Cam, as well, because I think he didn’t let me stay or come back to the match,” said Carlos Alcaraz, as quoted by Tennis 365.
Alcaraz also voiced concerns about the demanding ATP schedule, highlighting the challenges players face with little time to properly prepare between tournaments. He emphasized how the lengthy tennis season can impact performance and recovery.
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With the ATP Finals approaching, Carlos Alcaraz will be eager to bounce back and prove his top form to the tennis world. Meanwhile, Pavlyuchenkova’s candid reflections provide an interesting perspective on one of the sport’s rising stars.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/tennis/news-i-didn-t-like-carlos-alcaraz-s-manner-wta-no-47-reveals-shocking-first-impression-left-unsure-spaniard