Carlos Alcaraz says he's not Nadal's successor: 'I want to be known as myself'
Carlos Alcaraz 'My Way' : Netflix
Carlos Alcaraz wants to build his own legacy—on his own terms.
The 21-year-old tennis star, already a four-time Grand Slam champion and current world No. 2, is widely regarded as the face of the sport's next generation. But in a new
Netflix
documentary, Carlos Alcaraz: My Way, the Spanish phenom makes it clear that he doesn't want to be labeled as the next
Rafael Nadal
, even though Nadal was his childhood idol.
'I don't want to be called Rafa's successor,' Alcaraz says. 'I want to be called Carlos Alcaraz Garfia.'
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The documentary follows Alcaraz's standout 2024 season, where he lifted his first
French Open
trophy on the same court Nadal once ruled and defended his
Wimbledon
title. He also teamed up with Nadal at the 2024 Paris Olympics in a moment fans hailed as symbolic. Yet despite the achievements and the connections, Alcaraz is pushing back against the weight of comparison.
Nadal himself understands the pressure.
'When you're young and they're constantly comparing you to some professional that's been on the circuit for many years, there are times you get tired of hearing it,' Nadal said in the documentary. 'It leads to an excess of pressure, and in the end, it can distort your life and even confuse you.'
Their shared nationality, clay-court prowess, and early success have made the comparisons natural, for Alcaraz, they've become an unnecessary burden.
Behind the success, a struggle with pressure.
The documentary shows a more vulnerable side of Alcaraz, including a moment after a loss to Gael Monfils in Cincinnati when he smashed his racquet in frustration. 'I wasn't mentally strong enough to overcome all the stress,' he admits.
He also opens up about his fears that tennis could start feeling like an obligation. After a tough 2023 French Open loss to
Novak Djokovic
, Alcaraz escaped to Ibiza against the advice of his team. 'I went there basically to just get wasted,' he says. But the break worked: he returned and won at Queen's and Wimbledon.
His team isn't taking his talent for granted.
Coach
Juan Carlos Ferrero
, a former world No. 1, appears candid in the series about his concern for Alcaraz's focus. 'If he's OK with being ranked number 15, then we'll lower our expectations,' Ferrero says. 'But knowing the way I am, I think it would be very hard for me to keep working with him.'
In the final scenes, Alcaraz reflects on the pressure of chasing greatness: 'Right now, I don't know [if I have the mindset to be the greatest ever]. I'm still young. But I prefer to put happiness before any kind of accomplishment. Being happy is an accomplishment—and it's not always easy to find.'
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