Being number one in the world, like Carlos Alcaraz, sounds like a dream every tennis player chases. But the truth is, staying there takes more than talent. It takes strategy to grow even when the schedule barely gives you room to breathe. Remember when, back in September, Alcaraz said, “I think my serve is an important weapon, so I had to work on it to be perfect, and it gives you a lot of confidence.” However, how did he perfect it? Because players hardly ever have time to stop and really practice during an apparently never-ending season. Well, Alcaraz has explained the process as he prepares for the Rolex Paris Masters.

X user carlosalcarazbr shared a clip on X featuring part of an interview with Alcaraz posted by Tennis TV, and it gave fans a look into Carlos Alcaraz’s methods. So how did he improve his serve amidst his packed schedule? A serve that, for the longest time, was considered the weakest part of his game. At Wimbledon, his first serve percentage dipped to a precarious 58%, but it looked unshakeable just weeks later at the US Open.

Alcaraz revealed that it all came down to making the most of what little time he had. “Well, for us tennis players, we don’t have to assign, you know, to improve the things that they will really want to improve… I had to do it while playing tournaments, in the practices, making small changes, and it takes time. It is; it is long to take, you know, the right movement, the right feeling. So I’ve been thinking so much about it, about, you know, just getting a really good movement, a really good rhythm…so I’m really happy that myself has improved a lot, because right now I think it’s really important,” he explained.

At the 2025 US Open, Carlos Alcaraz lost his serve only three times in the entire tournament. Well, it’s a clear sign that all that quiet, mid-season work is finally paying off. But it took some time for him to change. It all began in the off-season when Alcaraz began to adjust his service motion by loosening his wrist and making the entire movement more fluid and relaxed. To increase the power, he even wound 5g of lead tape around the neck of his racket.

“In the end, we had to change certain things, to try them out,” said Alcaraz. Now the Spaniard is aiming for his first-ever Paris Masters championship, and he is doing it in a very different way.

Carlos Alcaraz returns to Paris with a point to prove

The 2025 season for Carlos Alcaraz has exceeded his expectations. The young Spaniard has already won eight titles and, perhaps more significantly, regained the consistency that was missing earlier in the season. He has been having an amazing run since April, making it to the finals of every tournament he has participated in. It’s no surprise that the 22-year-old from Murcia is back at the top of the ATP rankings and eager to close out the year in style. With the ATP Finals in Turin and the Davis Cup Finals in Bologna ahead, Alcaraz remains focused. He wants to finish the season stronger than ever.

After skipping the Shanghai Masters to recover, he tested himself at the Six Kings Slam exhibition in Saudi Arabia. Now, he returns to Paris, ready to chase a title that has eluded him so far—the Paris Masters. Historically, he has struggled at this event and has never advanced beyond the quarterfinals. But things are different this time. The tournament has moved to a new venue with a slower surface, which he’s a vocal fan of.

“Well, I have to say this is impressive. To be honest. I like so much the new venue. Everything I think is much easier for the players, more comfortable for the players. So I think they made a great change coming here, and I’m just really happy they did it,” said Alcaraz.

He’s also arrived early, much too early. If you’re wondering why, it’s to put in some intense sessions, including a tight practice set against local favorite Arthur Rinderknech. And he’ll open his campaign tomorrow at the Défense Arena against either Sebastian Baez or Cameron Norrie.

But the road ahead won’t be easy for Alcaraz, with a possible third-round meeting against Valentin Vacherot looming. And if Jannik Sinner claims the title while Alcaraz exits early, the fight for World No. 1 could open up once again.