In an interview with the Italian media Gazzetta dello Sport, Carlos Alcaraz spent beautiful words for his legendary countryman Rafael Nadal. Even if their tennis is very different, Carlitos will ideally inherit Rafa's career in his hands, trying to give continuity to a Spanish tradition that has given tennis a great champion (4 Slams at just 21 years old - ed.) after the very close farewell of the 22-time Slam champion. A sort of handover will take place during the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga, Nadal's last tournament before his official retirement. An occasion that will certainly be moving and exciting for all the fans who will be present in the stands.
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"Playing in Paris with Rafa was a dream. He has always been my idol, he is one of the best athletes, if not the best, that Spain has ever had. The news of his retirement was not pleasant for any of us, but the fact that he is saying goodbye in Spain, in Malaga, playing in the Davis Cup, will make this event special for our entire country. It will be even more special for me, since I will be able to live that week side by side with my hero," said Alcaraz, currently in Turin for the ATP Finals.
Among the topics touched upon in the interview by the young Spaniard is the busy schedule: "Sometimes it is difficult, to tell the truth. It is hard to get the energy out, to find the right motivation. Sometimes you feel like a slave to the circuit and the tournaments. Luckily, with experience you learn to find moments for yourself, free days that make you switch off and catch your breath, that help you move forward, to give 100% in training or in events day after day."
Talking about his rivalry with Jannik Sinner, Carlitos stressed how he and his rival will have to be able to keep their rivalry at the top for the next 15 years.
"Having lost the Big 3, in a certain sense people want to put labels on those who came after, like us. It's true that Jannik and I have already experienced fantastic moments against each other, great battles that will remain in the history of this sport, but we're talking about two or three years. We have to be good at maintaining this level at least for the next 15 if we want to be remembered like them. It would be nice at the end of our career to have inspired new generations, as they did with us. The weapons that you would steal from Sinner? The calm with which he goes on court: it's something incredible. In the most delicate moments, those of greatest tension, I envy his tranquility. As for the game itself, I would like to try his backhand or his serve. They are potentially lethal weapons. The quarterfinals of the 2022 US Open were the most difficult battle, but in my opinion one of the most beautiful. I think I have reached probably the highest point, both mentally and physically, of my entire career," analyzed the young Spaniard.
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Carlitos, during the media day of the ATP Finals, answered the questions of the journalists, expressing his desire to win the trophy.
"I would really love to lift this prestigious trophy one day. It's only the second time I've played in Turin and, for me, playing with the best seven players in the world really means a lot. Being here is a goal that I've been chasing since the beginning of the season. I honestly don't know why so many Italian fans continue to love me so much despite my rivalry with Jannik, but I think it's because I always try to make people have fun when I step on the court. Maybe it's because of my personality or maybe it's just my tennis but it's true that in Italy I feel the passion of the fans. Italians love sports a lot, not just tennis," he explained.
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The 4-time Slam champion concluded by revealing that he is focused on the Finals and is not yet thinking about the Davis Cup: "I don't want to think about Davis at the moment also because it's difficult for me to accept Rafael Nadal's withdrawal. I'm focused on the ATP Finals and I don't know what will happen in Malga. I'll think about it when the time comes and we'll see how it goes."
