Carlos Alcaraz, two-time Roland Garros winner: "I don't want people to call me Rafa's successor."

Carlos Alcaraz has had a challenging but brilliant season . After winning his second Roland Garros title, lifting the trophy at Queen's , and reaching the Wimbledon final, he decided to take a break. He withdrew from the Canadian tournament to rest before the final stretch of the year. In an interview with the Financial Times , he admitted: "I love playing tennis. It's my passion." His return will be in Cincinnati , in preparation for the US Open .

“I don't want people to call me Rafa's successor ,” the world number two stated emphatically. Although he understands the public's admiration, Alcaraz insists on following his own path. He avoids feeling pressured by other people's expectations and defends his authenticity as a player. “If you don't stand firm in your ideals, that pressure can consume you,” he explained. His goal is to grow without needing to replicate what others have already done.

Competition on the track, respect off it

Regarding his relationship with Jannik Sinner , Alcaraz emphasized that, despite their rivalry, they have a good rapport. “People look for friction, but the reality is different,” he stated. The two see each other frequently off the track, even training together on occasion. Although they compete intensely, they maintain a relationship based on respect. “We want to improve ourselves, but we also want to be good people,” the Murcian added.

The tennis player also talked about how he disconnects between tournaments. He enjoys small pleasures like his mother's cooking or an off-competition dessert. "My mother's cooking is always the best," he confessed. He was also highly critical of the digital environment. He believes social media projects a false image and can cause harm. "There is no worse weapon than words," he said about the impact of online comments.