Roberto Bautista Agut’s recent loss to Alexander Zverev in the Madrid Open has sparked a heated debate about Carlos Alcaraz’s approach to tennis. After being knocked out in the second round, Bautista Agut was asked about his fellow Spaniard Alcaraz in the mixed zone at Caja Mágica. He made headlines with a blunt statement: “I don’t think he’s going to win Grand Slams by going to bed at 7 am.”
A Different Mindset
Alcaraz has been making waves with his recent Netflix documentary, À Minha Maneira, where he discusses his ambitions to join the likes of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic as one of the all-time greats. His coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero, highlights the difference in Alcaraz’s approach to the sport compared to previous generations. “To be the best in history, you have to be a slave. If not, you have to accept that you may never be the best,” Ferrero said, expressing doubts about Alcaraz’s unorthodox work ethic.
Balancing Life and Tennis
Alcaraz acknowledges the tough times, saying, “There are times when I don’t feel like playing that much, there are times when I don’t feel like traveling that much.” He finds solace in his close circle of friends and admits to wanting to enjoy his youth. “I’m 21 years old, and right now, I want to do things my way. I may not have the same discipline as Djokovic; I may have many days when I have fun, maybe more than I should, and ultimately, that’s my path.”
Bautista Agut stressed that tennis at the highest level demands a lot. “You have to play at a high level for 15 years if you want to match the numbers of the three kings of the sport,” he said. He believes Alcaraz is intelligent and will eventually understand what’s required to succeed at the top level.
Key points from the discussion around Alcaraz’s career include:
- Alcaraz’s ambition to be among the greatest tennis players.
- Bautista Agut’s criticism of Alcaraz’s lifestyle.
- Ferrero’s concerns about Alcaraz’s work ethic.
- Alcaraz’s desire to balance tennis with enjoying his youth.
