Carlos Alcaraz relationship challenges, Jannik Sinner behaviour and ban reason
Carlos Alcaraz is eyeing his third consecutive Wimbledon win after taking down Novak Djokovic in the finals of the past two years. The Spanish sensation has been in formidable form, notably rallying from behind to clinch the French Open against Jannik Sinner in what was an electrifying match.
Having also lifted the trophy at Queen's Club for the second time with the HSBC Championships under his belt, Alcaraz is aiming for another Wimbledon victory that could catapult him into the annals of tennis history at the tender age of 22.
Yet, despite the buzz surrounding his success streak, Alcaraz maintains his eyes are only set on the prize, not the history books. Prior to Wimbledon, he said: "I'm coming here thinking that I really want to win the title, I really want to lift the trophy. I'm not thinking about how many players have done it, winning three Wimbledons in a row."
Off the court, Alcaraz's life is just as scrutinised, especially regarding personal matters such as his love life and his relationships with other professionals. Here's what we know about the Spanish sensation...
Girlfriend challenges
Speaking with the Sunday Times last year, Alcaraz candidly revealed the challenges of finding love amidst the constant travel demanded by the sport. He said: "I am single.
"I am looking for someone. It can be difficult as a tennis player to meet the right person because you are travelling all the time."
He adopted a similar tone with Vogue the year before too, telling the publication: "It's hard to find the person who can share things with you if you're always in different parts of the world."
Sporting rivalry
Reflecting on Alcaraz's triumph over Sinner at the French Open, 1989 Roland Garros winner Michael Chang told Clay Tennis: "The generation that we followed was very competitive, [players] didn't really talk to each other. Alcaraz and Sinner have a very healthy respect for one another. Different than in years past, like a McEnroe-Connors or a McEnroe-[Ivan] Lendl. There was no friendship there."
He added: " [Roger] Federer and [Rafael] Nadal changed the culture in the locker room. On court, it's business. You want to play your best and beat your opponent, but off court they were kind to everyone, whether you were world No. 2 or No. 100 in doubles.
"Roger, Rafa, and even Novak are responsible for that transformation. They treated everyone the same and were kind. I think that respect has carried over to the current generation because they respect everyone."
Party ban
Speaking to El Laguero, Juan Carlos Ferrero explained that his partying plans after the French Open may have been toned down through his guidance. He explained: "Yesterday, I told him to have a good time, that he deserved it, but to remember he's a tennis player at all times.
"We know how he is and these days do him good. When he returns, he comes back with a clear head, renewed. It's no longer about the word 'party', but about disconnecting. Being with his friends and not thinking about tennis and being a normal 22-year-old, and returning to work with enthusiasm."
Alcaraz himself is no stranger to the nightlife, candidly speaking of his fondness for partying in his Netflix special, 'Carlos Alcaraz: My Way'. He said (via the Express): "Look, in Ibiza... I'm not going to lie to you. It's about partying and going out. I went there to let loose. I don't know if it's right to say it that way, but I went out.
"I made the most of it. On my return, of course, I won at Queen's and Wimbledon. I'm not saying I won because of the party, but those days did me good. And if things go well, I have to repeat."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Glasgow Times
31 minutes ago
- Glasgow Times
A-level student fulfils promise to dying mother by securing place at Oxford
Gabrielle Morgan, 18, said she 'could practically hear (her mother) celebrating' with her when her offer came through to study modern languages at the University of Oxford. Gabrielle, from Newcastle, secured her place after achieving straight A* grades in English literature, Spanish and chemistry, along with an A* in an extended project qualification (EPQ), and will go on to study Spanish and beginners' Portuguese. Sisters Francesca Morgan (left), Gabrielle Morgan (right) and their mother Faustina (Darren Irwin Photography/PA) It comes a year after her sister Francesca achieved straight A* grades and secured a place at Cambridge to study natural sciences. The sisters were both home-schooled by their mother, Faustina, before joining Dame Allan's Schools. Ms Morgan, who moved from Malaysia to the UK in her early 20s, died from lung cancer in April last year. Gabrielle said: 'My mum was incredible, strong, organised, inspiring and a person of great faith. 'She supported every interest we had, helped us through our GCSEs and pushed us to work hard. 'She made me promise to keep working hard on my Oxford application no matter what happened. 'I could practically hear her celebrating with me when the offer came through. 'I know just how proud of me she is and I know she helped a lot, even though she wasn't here physically.' Gabrielle's promise to Ms Morgan carried her through an emotionally turbulent year – including a school trip to Valencia, during which she boarded a high-speed train to Madrid with director of sixth form Karen Fletcher to sit her Oxford admissions test. Gabrielle Morgan receives her A-level results at Dame Allan's Schools (Owen Humphreys/PA) Gabrielle, who is bilingual in English and Mandarin, said she has been passionate about languages and storytelling from a young age, and dreams of becoming an author. 'The literary world has always been central to my life,' she said. 'Tolkien is my favourite author – he studied and taught at Oxford and wrote the books that shaped my love of reading. That's why I decided to apply there.' Gabrielle said her standout moments at Dame Allan's, an independent school in Fenham, Newcastle, include performing Visiting Hours and Supermarket Flowers by Ed Sheeran at school concerts in memory of her mother. 'She loved hearing me sing, so it felt special to sing for her in front of others,' she said. 'Those songs encapsulate what grief feels like.'
Scottish Sun
42 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Brother of ITV legend Jeremy Paxman leaves £2.1million fortune to his family after tragic death aged 73
The diplomat was in his post in Mexico for two weeks before Hurricane Wilma struck FAMILY FORTUNE Brother of ITV legend Jeremy Paxman leaves £2.1million fortune to his family after tragic death aged 73 Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) AN TV star's brother has left a massive £2 million estate to his family after tragically passing away aged 73. Giles Paxman, the diplomat brother of BBC journalist Jeremy Paxman, left a whopping £2.1 million to his family after his tragic passing. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 5 The British Ambassador, Giles Paxman, celebrated the Royal Wedding at the British Embassy in 2011 Credit: Getty 5 Giles was the younger brother of esteemed TV star Jeremy Paxman Credit: Getty - Contributor He had a distinguished career as a civil servant and was Britain's ambassador to Mexico and then Spain. Giles Paxman was once interviewed on BBC Newsnight by his own brother Jeremy about the devastation caused in Mexico by Hurricane Wilma. His will was signed less than a month before his death and stated the value of his estate at a little over £2 million. It will be passed to his wife Segolene, the couple lived in south-west London together and had three daughters. They married in Agen, France, in 1980 and had three daughters — Julia, who now works in the luxury travel industry, Lauren, a secondary school teacher, and Alice, a vet. He was appointed ambassador to Mexico in 2005 and learnt in his second week in office that Hurricane Wilma was headed straight for Cancun. In 2009 Paxman was appointed Britain's ambassador to Spain where he stayed for four years. He left the diplomatic service in 2013 and the same year he was honoured for his service, Giles was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George later in 2013. Unlike many of his predecessors Paxman never received a knighthood. 5 Giles Paxman and his wife Segolene Paxman in Spain Credit: Getty 5 Giles Paxman, Ambassador of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is presented to Spanish King Juan Carlos I Credit: Getty After Giles retired from his long career in the civil service he sailed across the Atlantic twice and the Pacific once. Timothy Giles Paxman was born at Gosport, Hampshire, on November 15, 1951. He was the second of four siblings with his famous brother Jeremy born 18 months earlier. Giles was brought up in the Lickey Hills, south of Birmingham and followed Jeremy to Malvern College. He then went on and read Modern Languages at New College, Oxford, with a year as a riding instructor in France. Giles tragically passed away from lung cancer on March 8, earlier this year, he was aged 73.
Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
Liverpool told Mikel Arteta to blame for transfer heartache after secret Arsenal chat
Arsenal completed the signing of Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad this summer, but the Spain international was on the verge of joining Liverpool 12 months ago Jamie Carragher thinks Mikel Arteta is the reason Martin Zubimendi didn't sign for Liverpool last year. The Spanish midfielder, who sealed a move to Arsenal this summer, had been on the brink of signing for the Reds in 2024. Liverpool had arranged a £51million deal with Real Sociedad and agreed personal terms with Zubimendi. Everything was ready to go - until the 26-year-old abruptly pulled the plug on the move at the eleventh hour. Publicly, Zubimendi claimed his choice was rooted in loyalty to his boyhood team. Carragher, however, suspects a different story. He believes Arteta subtly persuaded the player to wait for Arsenal, planting the seeds for a move to north London long before it was confirmed. "I'm convinced now that Arteta stole him from Liverpool," Carragher told the Stick to Football podcast. "He'd agreed to come to Liverpool. He said he was coming - and at the last minute he said, 'I don't want to come. I'll have another year [at Sociedad].' "Arteta's from the Basque area. There's no doubt he's been into him and said, 'We're signing [Mikel] Merino this season, we'll come for you next season.' "The deal was done about halfway through the season. He definitely stopped [Liverpool's] deal. That's why Zubimendi didn't go to Liverpool. I think Arteta got into him." Arteta was born in San Sebastian - home to Real Sociedad - and even played briefly for the club, joining from Rangers in 2004 before leaving for Everton just six months later. Fast forward to late 2024, and he was reportedly working discreetly with his former side to secure Zubimendi for £55m. The transfer became official in July, with the Spaniard now expected to feature alongside Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard in a potentially formidable Arsenal midfield. Missing out on Zubimendi was a major disappointment in an otherwise subdued Liverpool summer transfer window 12 months ago. Federico Chiesa was their only major signing, and the Italian forward found minutes hard to come by. Still, it hardly derailed them - Arne Slot led Liverpool to a dominant Premier League triumph, finishing 10 points ahead of Arsenal to claim the club's 20th league title. This year, Arteta and Zubimendi aim to close that gap, though Liverpool's heavy summer spending of nearly £300m - on Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez, Hugo Ekitike, and with deals for the likes of Marc Guehi, Giovanni Leoni, and Alexander Isak potentially to come - makes that challenge steeper. That said, Liverpool's campaign began with a stumble in the Community Shield, losing to Crystal Palace on penalties after a 2-2 draw. Goals from Ekitike and Frimpong, along with an eye-catching display from Wirtz, gave a glimpse of what Slot's retooled side might deliver, but there are perhaps one or two tactical kinks to iron out first.
