Carlos Alcaraz reveals he went to Ibiza following French Open defeat to Novak Djokovic

Carlos Alcaraz responded to his painful defeat at the French Open against Novak Djokovic by taking himself off to the party island of Ibiza.

Suitably refreshed after a few days living as a normal 20 year-old, he resurfaced in the contrasting environment of West London’s Queen’s Club, preparing to take his slot at the top seed at the Cinch Championships.

‘It was a good location, I had three, four days off after the French Open, a friend of mine was there (Ibiza) on holiday as well. I joined him for just a few days,’ said the world number two. ‘ I like that kind of time to turn off your mind and enjoy your life a bit as well. I think it’s really important.’

The last time we saw Alcaraz he gave a startlingly honest assessment of why he had ended up cramping against the 36 year-old Serb, admitting it had all been down to the tension of the occasion. He was no less blunt when looking back with the benefit of hindsight.

‘Both of us know what happened. It was the nerves I couldn’t handle,’ said the Spaniard. ‘It’s tough to play such a high level against Novak with a lot of nerves. I have to start the match more relaxed and enjoy it a little bit more and not be worried, with a lot of nerves I couldn’t play my game.

Carlos Alcaraz headed to Ibiza to relax following his loss to Novak Djokovic at the French Open

‘It was my second semi-final of a Grand Slam and of course playing against a legend like Novak is never easy. That’s where you find out against Novak, so it’s going to be different the next time that I’m going to be in that situation.

‘I would say I’m going to deal with the pressure, the nerves, better than the I did in in that semi-final. I am a guy who finds positive things always, I learned a lot from that match so it’s going to be different in the next situation.’

Alcaraz has only played two senior tournaments on grass and, however gifted he is, he knows there will need to be a swift learning process before he takes on French qualifier Arthur Fils in the first round.

‘I arrived on Saturday morning, I had my first practice on grass yesterday. The most difficult part is to move well on it, you have to be careful. The most comfortable thing for me is going to the net and playing aggressive all the time, it is similar to the other surface so for me playing that style is comfortable.

‘There are a lot of players who slide on grass, I’m not one of them. I have to be really focused on every move and every shot, it’s more tiring when you’re moving on grass. So it’s totally different. I have to do specific work.’

Alcaraz is determined to bounce back at the Cinch Championships after the loss to Djokovic

The 20-year-old admitted that nerves got the better of him during his clash against Djokovic

A fast learner with incredibly fast feet, it should not take too long, and it would be no great surprise to see him improve on his fourth round showing at Wimbledon last year.

The tournament will be hoping he makes it through a few rounds, especially after Matteo Berrettini, the champion for the past two years, was forced to withdraw due to a stomach muscle injury.

It will also help if a few of the six British men in the draw could make a run, among them British number two Dan Evans.

He revealed that, following a broadly disappointing first half to the season, he has split with his coach of more than two years, Argentinian Sebastien Prieto.

He has also parted with his Argentinian physio and fitness trainer. For the next few weeks he will work with Australian Matt Reid, a past coach of Nick Kyrgios, and Tim Henman’s former trainer Kieron Vorster.

Evans admitted that the decision, taken after the French Open, had not been an easy one: ‘ He’s an incredible coach and an incredible person, ‘ said the world number 28, who faces talented American Seb Korda in the first round.

‘ I was pretty down for a few days, he was basically part of the family and I’m grateful to him so it was a difficult thing. But that’s what I thought I needed to do for my tennis, we both sort of agreed that was probably the best thing to help me win some matches.’