Carlos Alcaraz hasn't lost since team held meeting after brutal Jannik Sinner defeat

Going into Friday's US Open semi-finals, Carlos Alcaraz is on an 11-match winning streak - including one win via retirement. The world No. 2 picked up the title in Cincinnati before heading to Flushing Meadows, and he's also lost just two matches since April.

One of those defeats came in the Wimbledon final, when Jannik Sinner came from a set down to end Alcaraz's reign at SW19. It was Alcaraz's first loss at Wimbledon in three years, and the Spaniard sat down with his team to have a crucial conversation, which has already transformed his season.

Since then, the 22-year-old has not lost a match. Alcaraz stormed into the Cincinnati Open finals last month, where he faced Sinner again. But the Italian retired just 23 minutes into the championship match with a viral illness, and Alcaraz was crowned the champion.

Now, Alcaraz has made it to the semi-finals of a Major tournament without dropping a set for the first time in his career. And his coach, former world No. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero, shed light on the post-Wimbledon meeting that changed his perspective.

"Internal conversations are often important," Ferrero told the ATP ahead of Alcaraz's semi-final showdown with Novak Djokovic in New York.

"In that conversation, we talked a little about what the Wimbledon final was like, his feelings, the things we saw, the things that clearly needed to be improved, how to approach the American tour...

"Situations that are experienced within the team. I think it was a very interesting, very positive conversation, in which he had a very clear idea of what he was thinking, as did we, and it has helped him stay highly motivated for the rest of the year."

Alcaraz has already well outperformed his 2024 record in the North American swing. Last year, the Spaniard suffered a heartbreaking defeat to Djokovic in the Olympic gold medal match.

He then lost in the opening round of the Cincinnati Open, destroying his racket in a rare outburst. Then, Alcaraz was sent packing in the second round of the US Open.

This year, the five-time Major winner came to the US in a much better headspace, and Ferrero believes this is largely down to Alcaraz's decision to take breaks in between tournaments.

The 22-year-old jetted to Ibiza after winning the French Open, and then went on another holiday to El Puerto de Santa Maria after Wimbledon.

"This tour is very different from last year; he's come back much fresher," Ferrero explained.

"That rest and vacation have been very beneficial for him after a rather stressful month and a half between Roland Garros and Wimbledon.

"It's a necessary vacation, helping him reset his mind, be with his fans, and maintain a high mental level to continue competing at the highest level."

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