It might seem odd to say Carlos Alcaraz has returned. He never really went anywhere. The 20-year-old has firmly been number two in the world for some time now — not quite ready to overtake Novak Djokovic again for the top slot, and somewhat comfortably ahead of number three. These days, that’s Jannik Sinner.
Still, until he successfully defended his title in convincing fashion at Indian Wells this year, things weren’t quite right with the young Spaniard. He hadn’t won a title since Wimbledon last year — an eternity for somebody who had gotten used to so much winning so early in his career — and bewildering early-round losses had also begun to creep in.
