Spanish tennis has already found Rafael Nadal’s heir in Carlos Alcaraz and he is set to light up Wimbledon this summer.
The 20-year-old has established himself as the top youngster in men’s tennis, notching up big wins against Nadal and Novak Djokovic.
Alcaraz rose to fame with a stunning win at the US Open last yearCredit: Getty
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He couldn’t have prepared better for Wimbledon by winning the men’s singles in Queens
Alcaraz has been playing tennis since he was four when he signed up with Real Sociedad Club de Campo de Murcia and grew up admiring his compatriot Nadal.
But his rise in recent years has been meteoric and viewers at SW19 should rejoice as he embarks on a quest for a second Grand Slam of his career.
Tennis has always been in his family blood as his grandfather started a club and his father was a semi-professional player.
His ambition to become a top player and to take on his idol Nadal was clear even as a child.
Sports psychologist Josefina Cutillas worked with Alcaraz when he was just 16 and admired his dedication.
Speaking to El País in 2021, he said, “Ever since he was a kid, he knew what he wanted to be.”
“He had a very clear idea of how far he wanted to go and that’s not easy because as a child or young person, desires fluctuate.”
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Alcaraz has always admired NadalCredit: Getty
Growing up as a young Spanish tennis player, it was no surprise that Alcaraz was immediately attracted to Nadal.
The tennis icon is one of Spain’s most successful athletes and Alcaraz has long been compared to his compatriot.
When he was 16 he said of Nadal: “I want to be like Rafa. My game is more like Roger Federer’s, but my role model is Rafa because my game is more suited to clay.”
Alcaraz beat his idol at the 2022 Madrid Open and Nadal showered him with praise.
But even then, the young Spaniard was perhaps overwhelmed when faced with someone he admired.
That has changed, however, as Alcaraz’s reputation continues to grow and his coach Juan Carlos Ferraro believes the 20-year-old doesn’t fear any of the big names.
He said: „Before, he was more afraid of him [Nadal]. Now he has lost respect for him in a positive sense.
“He’s able to play one-on-one and feels capable of beating him.”
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Alcaraz came so close to beating Djokovic at the French Open earlier this yearCredit: AFP
Considered to be the future of tennis, he has received rave reviews from several former pros including Laura Robson.
She said: “It’s kind of hard for me to imagine that he’ll continue to improve.
“He just has so many more skills than you feel he could match. That’s almost the scary part for all his opponents as he develops as a player because you forget how young he is and how little time he really puts in on the tour, and yet he’s just outrageous.
“It’s just a pleasure to watch him.”
Off the pitch, Alcaraz is a big Real Madrid fan and is friends with many players, including Vinicius Junior, who has watched him twice in the last year.
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Alcaraz has admirers outside the tennis worldCredit: Getty
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Alcaraz shared a moment with Argentine superstar Lionel Messi
Alcaraz has also met Barcelona legend Lionel Messi and described the experience as ‘crazy’.
He runs his own charity in his hometown of Murcia, which helps people with Down Syndrome, and has raised £9.4million so far, including nearly £2,000 for each pair of trainers he wore in his US Open win.
But his attention will be on the pitch this summer as he aims to launch a successful Wimbledon challenge.
And he couldn’t have posed a better challenge at SW19 than winning the 2023 Queens tournament.
Attention now turns to the main event at Wimbledon, where the Spaniard is easily Djokovic’s biggest rival.
If he reaches the final and beats the Serb, it could be a seismic moment in the future of tennis, which will undoubtedly be dominated by this incredible young man.
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2023-06-27 13:52:23
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