Carlos Alcaraz might be one of the two most talented players on the ATP Tour right now, but he’s not letting the pressure of greatness get to him.
Just three years ago, Alcaraz burst onto the tennis scene by winning the US Open. Since then, the young star has added three more Grand Slam titles to his collection, bringing his total to four.
That’s still a long way from the legends of the game. Roger Federer has 20. Rafael Nadal has 22. And Novak Djokovic? He’s sitting at a whopping 24 major titles.
| Name | Age | Points | Stats 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| es Carlos Alcaraz | 21 | 68,791 | 25 - 5 |
When Alcaraz first arrived, he wasn’t shy about his ambitions. He boldly claimed he wanted to be the best in history and spoke confidently about his future.
But something’s changed in recent months.
The 21-year-old seems to have shifted his mindset, trying to ease some of the enormous pressure that’s been building since those early declarations.
In fact, Alcaraz recently admitted that pressure “killed” him. That’s why he’s now taking a more measured approach when talking about his goals.
“I’m not obsessed with being the best in the world,” he told GQ in a recent interview. “I was number one a few years ago, and I was happy. Now I’m number three, and I’m equally happy. And I’m enjoying the journey, the sport, and life.”
When asked specifically about chasing the Big Three of Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic, Alcaraz was careful with his words.
“I’m not obsessed. I’ve always said I’d like to be the best in history and sit at the Big Three’s table, but those are big words, not an obsession,” he explained.
What really matters to him goes beyond just winning titles.
“I always say I’d like to be remembered as an inspiration to the little ones, and as someone who had fun doing what he loved most, with a smile on his face and making people enjoy themselves.”
It’s pretty clear that Alcaraz is trying to control his narrative more carefully now. He’s not backing away from his lofty goals, but he’s deliberately avoiding words like “obsession” that might add unnecessary pressure.
At the same time, he knows the road ahead won’t be easy.
When asked how long he thinks his career might last, the young Spaniard couldn’t give a definite answer.
“I don’t know, I hope it’s many,” he said. “Roger, Rafa, and Novak have had very long careers, keeping the flame burning and overcoming all kinds of problems, both sporting and physical. I just started my career recently, although I’ve achieved many important things in a short time. We’ll see how far I go.”
Fans can watch Alcaraz in action at the Monte-Carlo Masters, where he’ll face Francisco Cerundolo in his opening match of the tournament.
