We all know how it goes: when one thing goes wrong, it’s like a domino effect. Suddenly, everything starts to spiral. You miss a shot, doubt creeps in, your body stiffens, and before you know it, your brain feels like it’s working against you. That’s the harsh reality of pressure. And when you’re two sets down, facing championship points, and nothing seems to be going your way, getting out of that mental chaos feels nearly impossible.
In the epic 2025 French Open final, Carlos Alcaraz stood on the brink of defeat. Facing World No. 1 Jannik Sinner, Alcaraz was down two sets to one, and Sinner was serving at 5-3 with three championship points in hand. The title seemed all but sealed. But in a jaw-dropping twist that stunned millions watching across the globe, Alcaraz saved all three match points, flipped the momentum, and went on to win one of the longest and most intense battles ever witnessed on Roland Garros clay. It wasn’t just a comeback, it was a statement.
When you’re playing against the best, winning three points back-to-back is next to impossible, and at that moment, everyone was testing Carlos Alcaraz’s mental strength. The real question we need to ask is: Was it truly mental strength? Was it luck? Or was it just a coincidence?
The fact is, Carlos hasn’t done this just once; he’s done it three times in the past (as shown in the image). So, when his back was against the wall, when he knew that defeat was just around the corner, when the opponent was playing at an extremely high level and had the advantage of championship points, what exactly was going on in his mind?
In a normal mindset, when you’re under that kind of pressure, this is what usually happens: you’re overthinking, you start believing the match is already lost, you feel the momentum slipping away, your body language drops, and your emotions turn negative. Essentially, your mind convinces you the game is already over.
But in Alcaraz’s case, his mindset was different. He simply didn’t give up until the very last point. We often say, “The game isn’t over till it’s over,” but in real pressure moments, that line can feel hollow. Because when you’re losing, the mind tends to jump to conclusions. It’s hard not to believe it’s over.
Very few players in the world can actually bring themselves out of that space, because doing it is far harder than saying it.
So what does it really take to believe the game isn’t over until it’s truly over? Is it mental toughness? Emotional resilience? How do we define this quality?
What we do know is this: Alcaraz has done it three times. And it’s clearly not by luck. There’s a process behind this remarkable ability to hold on, stay composed, and turn the match around.
He’s understood a method to control his mind to stay focused in the moment, remain present, and manage his arousal level so that he can continue to play with clarity even in the most high-pressure situations.
It’s about discovering a process that works for you. And when you repeatedly apply that process and see it work, something powerful happens: belief. Now, it’s no longer just a process. It becomes a deep-seated belief that you can come back, no matter how tough the moment.
When this process is combined with belief, it starts to become a habit one where coming back from tough situations becomes second nature. And that habit of consistently fighting back is exactly what Carlos Alcaraz has mastered.
That doesn’t mean he’ll succeed every single time, but it means he’ll do it more often than not. And it’s in this “more often” where the difference lies. Great players aren’t immune to failure, but what sets them apart is their ability to build a process, repeat it until it builds belief, and eventually turn it into a habit of pushing through when it’s toughest to do so. That’s what creates the differentiator. That’s where peak performance and magic truly happen. And that’s exactly what Alcaraz has done.
This is exactly what we do at MyMentalCoach we help you discover and strengthen your personal mental process through focused mental training, so you can consistently perform at your peak. Check out our Senior Athlete page to learn more about how we support athletes in building the mindset to win, especially when it matters most.
Just awesome sir. Nicely written.