Carlos Alcaraz, the 22-year-old Spanish tennis prodigy and world No. 2, has firmly addressed critics drawing bold comparisons to his idol, Rafael Nadal, emphasizing his desire to carve out his own legacy. In a candid interview on Netflix’s docuseries Carlos Alcaraz: My Way, released in April 2025, Alcaraz expressed frustration with being labeled “Rafa’s successor.” “The first time I was compared to Rafa, I was 16. It was a cool moment… ‘Rafa’s successor,’ ‘The heir to the Spanish crown.’ Unnecessary. ‘No, because Rafa didn’t achieve this at your age.’ Sure. So what? I want to be called Carlos Alcaraz Garcia,” he stated, highlighting his intent to be recognized for his unique achievements rather than as a shadow of Nadal, the 22-time Grand Slam champion.
Alcaraz’s comments come amid a stellar 2025 season, where he clinched his fifth Grand Slam title at the French Open, defeating Jannik Sinner in a dramatic five-set final, becoming the first man to repeat at Roland Garros since Nadal. Remarkably, Alcaraz achieved this milestone at exactly the same age as Nadal did for his fifth major (22 years, one month, and three days), a coincidence Alcaraz called “destiny” in his post-match presser, saying, “It’s a huge honor. Hopefully, it’s not gonna stop like this.” His clay-court dominance, including a second straight French Open title, has fueled comparisons, with John McEnroe claiming Alcaraz could surpass a prime Nadal on clay, a view countered by Nick Kyrgios, who argued Nadal’s 14 Roland Garros titles remain untouchable.
Nadal himself has dismissed the comparisons, urging fans to let Alcaraz “enjoy his personal career.” In 2022, at the Italian Open, he said, “We cannot be all the time thinking about how I was and how he is today… If he’s able to win 25 Grand Slams, amazing for him and for our country.” Nadal, now retired after the 2024 Davis Cup Finals, praised Alcaraz’s grass-court prowess, noting, “He does better things than me on grass because he possesses a better serve and volley,” during a 2025 Wimbledon interview. Alcaraz, who reached the 2025 Wimbledon final but lost to Sinner, acknowledged the emotional weight of Nadal’s retirement, saying in Shanghai, “Losing him is going to be difficult for me. He’s been my idol since I started playing tennis.”
Despite a rocky hard-court season, including a second-round US Open loss to Botic van de Zandschulp in 2024, Alcaraz’s focus on consistency and growth reflects his maturity. “I try not to give too much importance to specific comments… Every little step counts, and you can learn from defeats,” he told Tennis World USA in July 2025. As he prepares for the 2025 Cincinnati Open and US Open, where he’s paired with Emma Raducanu in mixed doubles, Alcaraz’s response to critics underscores his determination to define his legacy as Carlos Alcaraz Garcia, not merely Nadal’s heir.
