Cabeza, Corazón, Cojones and 3 Important Psychological Lessons From Alcaraz’s Win

Three “C”s of Carlos Alcaraz

In the 2025 Roland Garros final, Carlos Alcaraz didn’t just win with skill—he won with a mindset. Down two sets and facing championship points, the young Spaniard credited his comeback to three words passed down from his grandfather, the three C’s: “Cabeza, Corazón, Cojones”—head, heart, and courage.

Three “C”s of Carlos Alcaraz, though colloquial, align remarkably well with core ideas in sports psychology. They serve as a cognitive-emotional performance model that illustrates how elite athletes integrate strategy, emotional resilience, and risk tolerance to thrive under pressure.

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1. Cabeza (Head)

“Cabeza” refers to mental clarity and strategic thought. In psychology, this maps closely to executive functioning—the brain’s ability to plan, inhibit impulses, and adapt to changing conditions (Diamond, 2013).

Alcaraz demonstrated this during his adjustments mid-match. He changed return positions, altered rally lengths, and used pauses to disrupt his opponent’s rhythm—evidence of situational awareness and metacognitive flexibility. These traits are often cited as critical to peak performance, especially in dynamic, high-stakes environments.

Rather than default to emotion or panic, Alcaraz used deliberate cognitive recalibration to regain control of the match.

2. Corazón (Heart)

“Corazón” symbolizes passion, but also emotional drive and regulation. Emotional control in sports psychology is not about suppression—it’s about channeling feelings constructively (Lazarus, 2000).

Alcaraz didn’t shy away from his emotions—he embraced them. His interactions with the crowd, expressive gestures, and self-affirmations on court represent emotion-focused coping strategies. These techniques help athletes manage internal states and maintain motivation during adversity.

Furthermore, “heart” also relates to intrinsic motivation. Studies in positive psychology suggest that connecting to one’s values and personal meaning enhances persistence, especially when outcomes are uncertain.

3. Cojones (Courage)

“Cojones,” though colloquial, reflects a form of approach motivation—the drive to pursue goals in the face of fear (Elliot & Thrash, 2002). In the final, Alcaraz’s willingness to take risks on critical points, such as a second-serve ace under pressure, demonstrated psychological bravery—acting despite anxiety.

This component also ties into self-efficacy, a key psychological construct that predicts an individual’s belief in their ability to succeed in specific situations (Bandura, 1997). Alcaraz showed not just belief but a learned competence built from previous challenges, rehearsals, and feedback loops.

Rather than fold, he leaned into risk with clarity and intention.

Why the “Three C’s” Matter Beyond Tennis

Though rooted in a family saying, Alcaraz’s model has implications well beyond Roland Garros. The triad can serve as a framework for performance under stress in any high-pressure field—education, leadership, emergency response.

• Cabeza asks us to slow down, analyze, and adapt.
• Corazón reminds us to stay connected to purpose and manage our emotional states.
• Cojones challenges us to act boldly when it matters most.

This structure complements modern resilience theories that suggest successful adaptation under adversity comes from an integrated mind-body-emotion system (Fletcher & Sarkar, 2013).

Conclusion

Alcaraz’s win was not merely a product of athleticism, but of psychological mastery. His grandfather’s mantra—Cabeza, Corazón, Cojones—may lack academic polish, but it elegantly encapsulates what performance psychologists have long studied: a balance of strategy, emotion, and courage. As sport continues to evolve, so too does our understanding that champions are as much sculpted in the mind as they are in the gym.

References

Diamond, A. (2013). Executive functions. Annual Review of Psychology, 64, 135–168.

Lazarus, R. S. (2000). How emotions influence performance in competitive sports. The Sport Psychologist, 14(3), 229–252.

Elliot, A. J., & Thrash, T. M. (2002). Approach–avoidance motivation in personality. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 82(5), 804–818.

Bandura, A. (1997). Self-efficacy: The exercise of control. New York: W.H. Freeman.

Fletcher, D., & Sarkar, M. (2013). Psychological resilience. European Psychologist, 18(1), 12–23.