Who is Carlos Alcaraz, the new jewel of Spanish tennis that will seek to take the throne that belongs to Rafael Nadal

“He is a player who runs all, that is key, he is very agile and very skilled with the body. Technically, as far as the shots are concerned, it is very complete, it goes very well ahead and closes the plays on the net very well. He may not have the serve of a 2-meter guy, but I don't see that he has fissures,” describes the young man from Murcia by coach and former Davis Cup captain Gustavo Luza, who he followed since he had him for the first time in front of him at the 2019 Banana Bowl.

From being a promise, in almost a blink of an eye, Carlos Alcaraz became the new jewel of Spanish tennis, the first on the scale of succession to the throne that Rafael Nadal continues to occupy today, but it is not only something purely at the national level, but also in the world context. But what made him such a risky player and where did this young man come from who is only 18 years old threatening the top of the professional ranking?

Born in El Palmar, Murcia, on May 5, 2003, at the age of 14 he entered the Academy that former N°1 in the world Juan Carlos Ferrero in the Alicante lands of Villena. Led by El Mosquito, as Ferrero is nicknamed, it has seduced not only the Spanish tennis scene, but both the circuit and the fans of this sport.

It does not stand out for its charisma or marketing capabilities, its qualities go on the side of behavior, work, technical skills and responsible attitude. As Nadal himself said two days ago, “Carlos has all the ingredients, passion, humility, talent and physicality, which reminds me a lot of myself when I was his age. He is already a rival in the present.”

In the 2021 season, he broke into the circuit from 146th place in the ATP ranking, to place in the top 15, when the ranking is updated, next Monday. Last year he began to show his talent that led him to win, at the age of 17, his first match in a Grand Slam tournament - he beat Van de Zandschulp at the Australian Open - and at just 18 years, 3 months and 25 days, after his victory in the first round of the US Open, he managed to close the circle with a win in each of the Majors and improved the scores achieved by Nadal, Djokovic and Federer.

Five days later he became the youngest player to reach the quarterfinals at The Big Apple, in the Open Era (since 1968). At that time comparisons began to grow with his idol born in Manacor. “I don't think it's bad that they compare him to Rafa,” said Tony Nadal. “Because although they are different players, they share the sacrifice of playing and the decision to win,” added the trainer of the top winner of Grand Slam titles.

But there was no praise when describing the young star from Murcia: “Carlos is a very complete player with good technique. His game is modern, he tries to hit the ball hard and very fast, with a very aggressive tennis. If he remains this focused on his work, he has a hopeful future.”

On his way to being the best U21 on the ATP circuit of the season, in July he won his first crown in Umag, Croatia, on brick dust. And in the last contest of the year, the Next Gen, which brought together the 8 best of 2021 under 21, managed to prevail over all of its generation. Among them, the Argentine Sebastian Báez, of a promising present.

Sebastián Gutiérrez, coach from Baez, lived it up close and has his reading of why Alcaraz managed to get so high. “In general, what surprised me the most is its physical delivery, how it moves, how it slips, how it goes on top of the ball. Also, what he transmits on the court and that offensive identity all the time. He is a boy who in doubt accelerates and who has a great serve. So his weaknesses are not so noticeable, thanks to what he transmits, because when he is higher on the circuit, the holes are less visible and this guy has such an attitude, so much presence that, at times, he intimidates”, Gutiérrez described in detail, to understand even more the characteristics of this Spanish player.

For Juan Carlos Ferrero, who remembers receiving him when he was 14, Alcaraz is a player with a lot of potential and “one of the few players I've seen who can adapt in a very short time to the level of any player you put in front of him”. A detail that highlights his coach, since it is very difficult for a player to adapt his ball speed to that of the opponent, and he adds among his considerations: “He is a very dynamic tennis player, who likes to play very aggressive. He feels very comfortable on all surfaces, he likes fast tracks, because he ends up a lot on the net, but he is not bothered by clay.”

As for the possibilities that predict a place in the Top Five and even some dare to place it in a short time at the top of the ranking, Ferrero's prudence leads him to declare that he would not like to make a prediction of how far he can go, but that he “has the potential to play an 'egg' of tennis”.

So far in 2022, the Spaniard participated in two tournaments, with only one defeat in 13 matches and a title won at the ATP in Rio de Janeiro, also in brick dust. That is why, after his victory over British Cameron Norrie, in the quarterfinals of the Indian Wells Masters 1000, he secured a place in the top 15 of today.

He has victories over his contemporaries: Jannik Sinner, Sebastian Baez, Juan Manuel Cerundolo, Holger Rune and Sebastian Korda. Also about Top Ten players such as Italian Matteo Berrettini or Norwegian Casper Ruud, as well as legends such as Scottish Andy Murray.

“I think it's going to be the best of all the new faces we're seeing. From a physical point of view, it seems very fast to me and has a lot of generosity in moving, which speaks of a player who is not only fast, but who has a great attitude to move”, commented Gustavo Luza, opening a comparison with the tennis players under 25 who dominate the circuit today.

Some of the considerations to consider when evaluating a player are commitment to their work, respect for their coach and the hunger for title-giving victories that they demand every week, every day. “I see him determined, very hungry, committed and focused, as I haven't seen any player of these young people. In addition, this boy's relationship with his coach is very respectful, very mature and he understands very well who is in charge, even though he is the one who then runs on the court”, concludes his analysis Luza.

The young Carlos Alcaraz will face Rafael Nadal for the second time (last year he fell in Madrid 6-1 and 6-2), looking for his first final of a Masters 1000, a definition zone in which he does not yet know the defeat. In front of him will be the only undefeated tennis player in the 2022 season, with 19 wins in 19 matches and 3 titles, including the Australian Open. A litmus test for the aspirations of reign held by the fresh youth of this 18-year-old from Murcia.

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