Alcaraz's secret hidden in her bag: a holy card given to her by her grandmother
If you think Carlos Alcaraz is a fantastic player, in a way you're right. The Spaniard's secret is hidden (also) in his sports bag : a holy card of the Virgen de la Fuensanta , the patron saint of Murcia, his hometown. A few kilometers away is the sanctuary of Algezares. Alcaraz spoke about it to the weekly magazine Maria con te , published by Gruppo Editoriale San Paolo, which in its current issue recounts the champion's devotion to Mary.
Alcaraz and the wild parties in IbizaAlcaraz is a champion all Ibiza and church . We know a lot about his public side, almost everything: his ironclad dedication on the court, his rise to world number 1 in 2022 (and his desire to return to the top soon), his five Grand Slam titles, the last one in Paris, when he saved three match points from Jannik Sinner . And then there's the wild partying, almost a must after every hard work: while Sinner needs to retreat to the quiet of his mountains, Alcaraz recharges his batteries only on the island, immersing himself for a few days in wild parties that seem decidedly unbecoming of a professional. He simply explains: "I need to not feel like a tennis player for a few days." When he returns, in fact, he's more energetic than ever.
Why Alcaraz is devoted to the MadonnaThe lesser-known Alcaraz is his altar boy version. His grandfather Manuel, originally from Seville, founded a brotherhood dedicated to Nuestra Señora del Rocío when he moved to Murcia, to whom he is deeply devoted. And when he can, Carlitos returns home to celebrate the Virgin Mary with his loved ones. And the holy card? His grandmother Victoria gave it to him when he was just starting out: the Virgin was supposed to protect him in his career. That's why Alcaraz never leaves it alone: he keeps that holy card in his racket pocket.
Two years ago, Alcaraz was intercepted at the shrine of Guadalupe: his pilgrimage forced him to arrive late to the TennisFest, where thousands of Mexican fans eagerly awaited him. "Where has Carlos gone?" they wondered. He himself solved the mystery, posting photos of his visit to La Morenita on Instagram. In Rome, before the Internationals, which he later won, Alcaraz went to the Vatican to pay homage to the Virgen de la Esperanza of Malaga, which was on display at the time in St. Peter's Basilica. Meanwhile, Sinner was welcomed by the new pontiff , Leo XIV , who presented him with his racket.
The cult of the Virgin of FuensantaThe city of Murcia's devotion to the Virgin of Fuensanta dates back to the apparition of the Virgin on Mount El Hondovuelo, where, according to legend, Mary caused the sacred spring that gives the place its name to flow. The cult likely dates back to the 15th century, and the blessed spring still irrigates the area. In 1694, during a period of severe drought, the image of the Virgin was brought to Murcia to ask for heavenly intercession: rain came, and after a few years, the citizens of Murcia elected the Virgin of Fuensanta as their patron saint, replacing María de la Arrixaca, venerated since the Reconquista. A change in number 1, in short. The Virgin's feast day falls on September 8th, the day after the US Open final.
repubblica
