Carlos Alcaraz was not holidaying in Murcia; the camera caught him working like someone with a very expensive to-do list.
Getty photographer Clive Brunskill released images from a December 24 session that underscore why the World No. 1 is already thinking about the 2026 season after a run that included eight titles and 71 match wins on the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index.
Inside The December Session
My Tennis Expert believes the December photos show a player treating the offseason like prime time, and that intensity is the clearest headline from Murcia.
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The gallery mixes on-court volleys, baseline hitting and strength work, offering a plain view of a routine that aims to sharpen every corner of his game. The images are structured like a short film about repetition, and repetition is not usually a hobby for a player like Alcaraz.
Clive Brunskill’s snaps were taken on December 24 and they highlight both technical drills and gym time, suggesting a balanced prep plan. The visual narrative leans on details — sweaty grips, intense focus, and a team vibe rather than solo island training.
Off-court scenes in the photos underline the point that Alcaraz treats recovery and strength as part of tennis craft rather than afterthoughts. His lifting shots and court-side conversations indicate an offseason that is meticulous rather than relaxed.
Numbers And Milestones
Alcaraz arrives at this prep period with clear credentials: the Spaniard walks into 2026 as the World No. 1 and he finished 2025 with eight titles in the bag and 71 match wins on the books, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index.
He is also a six-time major champion who has won Roland Garros, Wimbledon and the US Open twice apiece, leaving the Australian Open as the missing piece to complete a Career Grand Slam for a very young champion.
On the Masters front, Alcaraz has plenty of pedigree too with eight-time ATP Masters 1000 titlist status already on his résumé, so the offseason images are more about fine margins than reinventing a champion.
Coaching, Calendar And The Road To Melbourne
Nearly two weeks before these images surfaced the news broke that Alcaraz had split with longtime coach Juan Carlos Ferrero, and those personnel changes are plainly part of the backdrop to the Murcia work sessions shown in the photos.
Samuel Lopez, who formally joined Alcaraz’s team ahead of last season, is visible as the conductor of this offseason orchestra and is credited in the source for watching over training, suggesting continuity despite the headline coaching change.
Alcaraz is scheduled to return to Melbourne for the Australian Open, a key target where he reached the quarter-finals earlier in the year before falling to Novak Djokovic. The Melbourne swing will be his first real test of how this offseason translated to match readiness.
Photographs of hitting, net play and weight-room sets point to specific work on serve construction, return aggression and explosive movement, elements that can shave games off the calendar when executed under pressure in Grand Slam matches.
The bigger question hovering over Murcia is whether the renewed routine and staff adjustments give Alcaraz the edge to reclaim or sustain ATP Year-End No. 1 honours, a status he has already worn with authority and intent in recent seasons.
For now the images are the clearest public signal we have that Alcaraz is not easing off the throttle, and they set a tone that he will enter the 2026 campaign both physically prepared and keenly aware of the target on his back.
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Christoph Friedrich is a German tennis player and coach currently residing in Oakland, California. He began his tennis journey at the age of eight and has since dedicated his life to the sport. After working as a tennis coach and hitting partner in New York City for eight years, Christoph decided to share his knowledge and experience with tennis players around the world by creating the My Tennis Expert blog. His goal is to make tennis education accessible to everyone and help players select the best equipment for their game, from racquets and strings to shoes and overgrips. Christoph's extensive research and expertise in tennis technology make him a valuable resource for players of all levels.
