Shining bright on his Rotterdam debut, Carlos Alcaraz explains his 'racket' factor

Beyond training and discipline, Spain's sensational talent, Carlos Alcaraz, is now experimenting with his racket adjustments to elevate his game. The Spaniard has been in impressive form at the Rotterdam Open, his second tournament of the 2025 season. Following his quarter-final victory against Pedro Martinez, the Wimbledon champion opened up about modifying his racket's dimensions. Alcaraz is already noticing a significant 'difference' in his game just two tournaments into the 2025 season, thanks to this key adjustment.

Currently ranked World No.3, Alcaraz continues to use his trusted Babolat Pure Aero 98. However, instead of switching to a new racket, he has opted for a modification. The Spaniard and his team decided to increase the weight of his racket by five grams, applying lead tape to the neck. This small but impactful tweak is designed to enhance the power behind his shots. Alongside refining his service motion, this adjustment stands as one of the major changes he has made in preparation for the 2025 season.

Now competing at the Rotterdam Open, Alcaraz has advanced to the semi-finals after delivering his most dominant performance of the tournament in the quarter-finals. On Friday, he cruised past fellow Spaniard Pedro Martinez with a commanding 6-2, 6-1 victory. Following the win, the 21-year-old elaborated on how the added weight has influenced his game. He had previously commented on the change in January, expressing satisfaction with how it felt during practice. His performances in Rotterdam so far suggest that the adjustment is paying off. Alcaraz has dropped just one set in the tournament, overcoming Botic van de Zandschulp in three sets in the opening round before registering straightforward victories over Andrea Vavassori and Martinez.

“As you know I changed the weight of the racket a little bit. I played in Australia with these five grams more, I felt a little more force, the feeling of hitting at impact is different, I feel like I generate more power.Afterwards, it also depends a lot on the player you are facing. I have the impression that I keep the same control while generating more speed. These five grams really make a difference," Alcaraz said.

Up next, he faces eighth seed Hubert Hurkacz in the semi-finals. Alcaraz has emerged victorious in all three of their past encounters, though their two most recent battles were closely contested. A title win in Rotterdam would mark a career-first for Alcaraz, his maiden triumph on indoor courts. The Spaniard has never reached the final of an indoor event, with his current semi-final run equaling his best previous results at such tournaments. He had previously made the last four at the 2022 Swiss Indoors and the 2023 ATP Finals but fell short on both occasions.