Carlos Alcaraz receives subtle criticism from World No. 10 Holger Rune over professional approach

At just 22 years old, Carlos Alcaraz has already made a major impact on the world of tennis. He has won four Grand Slam titles and reached World No. 1—an impressive resume for such a young player. However, some have also criticized his behavior off the court, and Holger Rune made a joke about that aspect.

“I don’t want to say anything controversial, but I might have been a little bit more serious than him in juniors,” Rune said of Alcaraz in a recent interview shared by Tennis.com. “But he’s catching up and is very serious now,” the Danish player later clarified.

“In juniors, you could see his potential, his talent, everything. He was an amazing player,” added Holger, who is the same age as Carlos and has known him for a long time. Speaking about Alcaraz’s more laid-back style, Rune said: “Of course, Spanish people live differently than Danish people. It’s a different kind of character.”

Rune reflects on tennis exposure

These comments came in the context of the Netflix docuseries My Way, which offers a behind-the-scenes look at Alcaraz during last season. “I actually talked to him a little bit about it in the locker rooms,” Holger revealed, before highlighting the value of this type of content in giving tennis more visibility around the world.

“I think it’s good. I think it’s nice for tennis fans, and—I said basically the same thing after the Netflix thing I did with the rest of the players (Break Point)—I think it’s great for the tennis fans to see more of what’s behind the scenes. It’s cool, because we’re all human,” explained the World No. 10.

The challenges of professional tennis, according to Rune

The docuseries sparked some controversy for revealing differences between Alcaraz and his coach Juan Carlos Ferrero regarding the young Spaniard’s approach to his career. “I think it’s normal for every player. You don’t feel the same every day, the same motivation every day, but it’s normal,” Rune reflected on the matter.

“You have some days where you dig a little bit deeper and find some more energy. Some days, it’s easier, but that’s part of life, no matter if it’s tennis or some normal job,” added the Danish player, who also expressed his understanding of Alcaraz’s mindset. “He’s a guy that loves playing tennis and is extremely good at it. It’s cool to see and from my side.”