'I don't want to be called Rafa's successor': When Carlos Alcaraz said he didn’t want to be compared to Rafael Nadal

Spanish star Carlos Alcaraz made headlines earlier this year for what he said in his Netflix documentary Carlos Alcaraz: My Way. In the series, the 22-year-old said that he doesn’t want to be compared to fellow Spaniard Rafael Nadal anymore.

“I don’t want to be called Rafa’s successor. I want to be called Carlos Alcaraz Garfia,” he said, making it clear that while he respects Nadal but he wants to be known for his own achievements.

Nadal defends Alcaraz

However, Nadal supported Alcaraz’s words. He said that comparisons can be tiring for young players and may add unnecessary pressure. “When you’re young and they’re constantly comparing you to some professional that’s been on the circuit for many years, there are times you get tired of hearing it,” he said.

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“This leads to an excess of pressure and in the end, I think it can distort your daily life and even confuse you,” he added.

The documentary also gave fans a look at Alcaraz’s personal life. It showed that the young star sometimes finds it difficult to balance tennis with life off the court. He admitted to partying in Ibiza after losing to Novak Djokovic in the 2023 French Open semifinals.

“I went there to reventar (burst)… I made the most of it because I knew I might not get another three days like that,” Alcaraz said. He also shared that his biggest fear is tennis becoming an obligation rather than a passion.

The documentary brought mixed reactions. Some fans and players, like Roberto Bautista Agut, criticised Alcaraz’s lifestyle. But Nadal once again defended the youngster. He said the documentary gave the wrong idea and didn’t reflect who Alcaraz truly is.

“I think the documentary doesn’t reflect his personality or the way he lives his career. He doesn’t come across as a tennis player who trains, but as someone who likes to party, who needs it, who isn’t very professional. It’s just not true,” Nadal said.

“Carlos is a great professional. He’s a person who works very hard to bring his tennis and his physique to the highest level. I think the documentary was approached in the wrong way, because people’s perception is different from what his real life,” he added.

Alcaraz silences critics with result

Despite all the talk, Alcaraz has proven himself on the court this year. He won the Italian Open and followed it up with a second consecutive win at the French Open. He beat rival Jannik Sinner in the finals of both tournaments. However, Sinner got his revenge at Wimbledon, where Alcaraz lost to him.

Now, with the US Open coming up, all eyes will again be on Alcaraz. The tournament will begin on August 24 and will end on September 7.