Carlos Alcaraz has swiftly dismissed suggestions that he will one day replace Rafael Nadal on the Tour by insisting that he wants to set out his own path.
The 19-year-old says he doesn’t want to take over from anybody after lifting his third title of the season in Barcelona on Sunday. At the Barcelona Open Alcaraz defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas in straight sets to become the first teenager in 17 years to win the ATP 500 tournament in consecutive years. The latest win follows his triumphs in Buenos Aires and Indian Wells earlier this year.
Alcaraz’s Barcelona success comes as compatriot Nadal faces a race against time to be fit for the French Open which will begin at the end of May. The 22-time Grand Slam winner has been absent from the Tour since January due to a hip injury. It was initially predicted that it would only take Nadal around eight weeks to recover from the issue but the process hasn’t gone to plan. He has also withdrawn from the Madrid Masters.
“I don’t want to take over from anyone. I feel lucky to have so many people supporting me and giving me that positive energy from the first game,” Alcaraz told reporters after lifting the Barcelona trophy.
“In the two years that Rafa has not been there (in Barcelona), I have been lucky or let’s say that I have won the title. I have always wanted to play against the best, it is a pity that we have not been able to enjoy Rafa these last two years. We hope that he will continue playing for a long time and that we can enjoy his tennis, but we (Alcaraz and his team) are not here to take over from anyone, but to build our own history.”
Alcaraz, who will turn 20 next month, has won a total of nine Tour titles so far in his career. In ATP Tour history, only five players have won more trophies than him as a teenager. He has a chance to add to his tally at the Madrid Masters where he is the defending champion. Besides Nadal, Novak Djokovic has also withdrawn from this year’s tournament.
Despite being the top seed in the Spanish capital, Alcaraz has distanced himself from being labelled as the favourite.
“We always go to each tournament thinking that we can win, trying to do our best,” he said.
“Not winning Madrid would not be a failure for me, it depends on the level I have shown and the matches. All the players are very good, they can all win the title and they can beat me. For me, failure would depend on the level I show and the way I play.”
The ultimate goal for the Spaniard will be Roland Garros where he will be seeking his second major title at last year’s US Open. He reached the quarter-finals of the tournament last year before losing in four sets to Alexander Zverev.
“Roland Garros is a clear short-term goal. It is a tournament that I really want to win, but right now we are focused on Madrid and Rome.” Alcaraz concluded.
Alcaraz has received a bye in the first round in Madrid. He will begin his campaign against either France’s Ugo Humbert or Finland’s Emil Ruusuvuori.
