Carlos Alcaraz makes surprising confession about his preparation before 2023 Wimbledon victory

Carlos Alcaraz has become the face of Spanish tennis following Rafael Nadal’s retirement. While still far from matching the legendary “Big Three” accomplishments, the 21-year-old has already claimed four Grand Slam titles, showcasing immense potential for the future.

Alcaraz etched his name into tennis history by winning his first Major at the 2022 US Open, becoming the youngest player ever to hold the ATP World No. 1 ranking at just 19. His subsequent victories at Wimbledon in 2023 and 2024, along with his Roland Garros title, have solidified his place as one of the sport’s brightest stars before turning 22.

What stands out most among his four Majors is how he prepared for his first Wimbledon win in 2023. After falling to Novak Djokovic in the Roland Garros semifinals, Alcaraz took an unconventional break from tennis. In his newly released Netflix documentary, “Carlos Alcaraz, My Way,” he revealed the surprising choice he made leading up to his Wimbledon campaign.

Alcaraz disclosed that, against his agent’s advice, he took a trip to Ibiza for some much-needed downtime. “I ended up going, and they know what I’m going there to do,” Alcaraz shared. “In Ibiza, I’m not going to lie, it’s pretty much all about partying and going out”.

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain poses with the winner’s trophy after victory against Alex De Minaur of Australia at The Queen’s Club. (Luke Walker/Getty Images for LTA)

“I basically went there to ‘burst’ myself; I’m not sure if that’s the best way to put it, but I went there to go out,” he continued. “I really made the most of it because I knew I might not get another three days like that”.

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Despite the unconventional lead-up, Alcaraz’s results were remarkable. “When I got back, I won Queen’s and Wimbledon,” he explained. “I’m not saying I won because of the partying, but those days were good for me. And I believe if things are going well, you have to keep at it. I had to do it again this year!”

Criticism from a fellow Davis Cup teammate

Amid the celebration of his achievements, Alcaraz faced criticism from his Davis Cup teammate Roberto Bautista Agut. Following Bautista Agut’s loss to Alexander Zverev at the Madrid Open, he was asked about Alcaraz’s ambitions to become one of the sport’s all-time greats.

The veteran’s response was candid, suggesting that Alcaraz’s late-night habits might hinder his chances. “I believe that top-level tennis demands a lot. I don’t think Carlos will win Grand Slams by going to bed at seven in the morning,” Bautista Agut said to Spanish media.

“Tennis is very demanding, though everything seems beautiful now. He is very young; he has to understand that to match the achievements of the top three, he must play at a high level for fifteen years,” Bautista Agut added. “I consider him intelligent; he will surely gradually realize what it takes to reach that high level and implement it”.