Carlos Alcaraz has stormed into the French Open final, sweeping aside both Tommy Paul and Lorenzo Musetti enroute.
The 22 year old defending champion dazzled at Roland Garros, dispatching the American 12th seed Paul 6-0, 6-1, 6-4 in what was his most impressive performance of the tournament to date.
Alcaraz, who is aiming for back-to-back finals at the French Open, already boasts an enviable Grand Slam record with two Wimbledon titles and US Open glory under his belt. He now faces Jannik Sinner with hope of adding further glory in France.
Despite his success though, he’s been shockingly advised to hang up his racket after confessing the pressures of tennis can sometimes be too much.
The Spanish sensation’s life off-court was laid bare in a Netflix documentary released earlier this year, where he shared his struggles with the sport, including feelings of being “enslaved to the sport” and battling “anxiety, frustration and doubts”.
Alcaraz candidly spoke about seeking balance and even disclosed his pre-Wimbledon party escapades in Ibiza, saying: “I ended up going and they know what I’m going there to do. In Ibiza, I’m not going to lie, it’s pretty much all about partying and going out.”
Alcaraz’s recent declaration that he went to a competition just to ‘reventar’ (burst) has stirred controversy, leading Toni Nadal – mentor and uncle of tennis great Rafael Nadal – to suggest Alcaraz should consider quitting the sport if he finds the pressures too hard to bear. In remarks on the Nude Project podcast, despite not having viewed the documentary, Toni Nadal delivered a candid evaluation of the young player’s attitude, denouncing over-dramatisation in sports.
“If it is too much for him, then he should quit tennis,” Nadal stated clearly, stressing his own perspective on handling life’s demands. “I understand things differently in life. In the world of sports, everything tends to be exaggerated.”
“I’ve often heard about the sacrifice in sports, the sacrifices made by Real Madrid athletes, and I would say: ‘Sacrifice?’ Life is about making choices, not just doing what I want.”
He underscored the inevitability of trade-offs in life, advising, “Sometimes it’s worth it for people, and sometimes it’s not. If it’s not worth it for you, it’s better to change jobs.”
Nonetheless, Nadal expressed his hope that Alcaraz perseveres with tennis: “I hope Alcaraz doesn’t change jobs because he’s one of the best in the world, but one has to take on the challenge. One must accept that things in life will involve a series of compromises. I don’t talk about sacrifices because I think that sacrifice is what you do for others.
“When you do it for yourself, it’s the price you have to pay. Alcaraz, being a great tennis player, indeed pays a price. But on the other hand, he earns much more money than the vast majority of young people his age, has much greater social recognition, and experiences things that few people do. But if it’s not worth it for you, better make a decision.”
Following this, Alcaraz revealed how his hectic schedule and globe-trotting lifestyle makes it “difficult” for him to find a long-term partner, having not experienced as much success in his love life than on the court.
Previously, he was linked with sports marketing and law graduate Maria Gonzalez Gimenez, while rumours have also circulated about potential romances with Spanish singer Ana Mena and fellow tennis star Emma Raducanu.
However, he confirmed his relationship status on the Molusco TV podcast, explaining: “I’m single, but I’m looking for someone. It can be difficult for a tennis player to meet the right person, because they are always on the move. Who knows what will happen this year.When asked if he was seeing anyone, Alcaraz added: “No, no, no commitments for now, I’m single. I’ve laughed several times with people close to me, when I discovered that three or four players got engaged during the winter break.”