The extraordinary career of Rafael Nadal set a towering standard for the Spanish players who came after him. Among them, Carlos Alcaraz has been most frequently labeled as the country’s next tennis superstar. However, the 21-year-old has issued a clear warning about that comparison.
“I don’t want them to call me Rafa’s successor,” he said in the Netflix series Carlos Alcaraz: My Way. The quote appears in the second episode, which, in case further clarity was needed, is titled ‘I’m not Rafa.’ The current World No. 3 avoids comparisons with Nadal and instead makes it clear: “I want to be called Carlos Alcaraz Garfia.”
Alcaraz rejecting comparisons to Rafael doesn’t mean he fails to appreciate the retired star’s greatness. In fact, he recently highlighted Nadal’s achievements in an interview with Marca. “What Rafa has done on clay is the greatest thing in sports—not just in tennis,” he said.
Still, he believes expectations shouldn’t be set that high, as they create unrealistic standards. “We’ve had so many great athletes in Spain that people are spoiled,” he explained. “In Spain, Rafa has spoiled us—along with other giants—and that’s something that shouldn’t be the case.”
Current World No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz
Alcaraz dreams of reaching the top
At just 21 years old, Carlos Alcaraz has already compiled an impressive resume. He has held the No. 1 spot in the ATP rankings and captured multiple major titles, including the US Open, Wimbledon (twice), and Roland Garros. However, that success has not diminished his hunger for more.
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“I would love to sit at the same table as the Big Three when it comes to titles,” he said in My Way, referring to Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, and Novak Djokovic. “My goal is to become the greatest player in history.” Still, he expressed uncertainty about the journey ahead: “Do I really have the mindset to do everything it takes, to deal with everything, so that I can become the best in history? Right now, I don’t know.”
Beyond his tennis ambitions, Alcaraz made it clear that he’s not willing to sacrifice everything in the pursuit of success. “I’m still young, and I have a lot ahead of me. But from what I’ve lived so far, I definitely prefer to put happiness before any kind of accomplishment,” he explained. “Because being happy is an accomplishment. It’s not easy to find happiness.”
When will Alcaraz return to action?
After losing the final of the Barcelona Open to Holger Rune, Alcaraz withdrew from the Madrid Masters 1000 to focus on recovering from an adductor injury and arrive in top shape for his upcoming challenges. The next on the calendar is the Rome Open, which begins Wednesday, May 7.
Still, Alcaraz’s main goal is Roland Garros, which kicks off at the end of May. That makes the coming days crucial as he evaluates whether he’s ready to compete in Italy or whether he’ll skip it and focus directly on the French Open.
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