Carlos Alcaraz said he never thinks he has to be the \u2018best ambassador possible\u2019 for tennis like former greats Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.<\/p>\n
Carlos Alcaraz said Wednesday that he doesn\u2019t play thinking that he needs to be the ambassador of tennis and try to grow the game the way legends like Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal did before him. Alcaraz, 22, was speaking after his Australian Open 2026 third-round win over German Yannick Hanfmann.<\/p>\n
The six-time Grand Slam winner, Alcaraz, who is also the world No 1 currently, was asked whether he was looking to make an impact on the popularity of tennis after he won 7-6 (7\/4), 6-3, 6-2.<\/p>\n
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS ADAlcaraz: \u2018Not thinking I have to be the best ambassador\u2019<\/p>\n
But Alcaraz said that his focus is only on entertaining the crowd, which will result in more people watching the sport.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot really. I don\u2019t think about it, being a good ambassador for tennis,\u201d Alcaraz said. \u201cBut obviously at the same time, the way that I play, I said many times, sometimes it\u2019s just trying to entertain the people, trying to engage people to watch more tennis.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I\u2019m not thinking that I have to be the best ambassador possible to tennis. Just stepping on the court, I\u2019m doing what I love to do, just playing tennis.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s just about loving what you\u2019re doing and enjoying every single second you step on the court. I think that\u2019s it. That\u2019s all that\u2019s in my mind.\u201d<\/p>\n
Carlos Alcaraz was asked if he feels a responsibility as the world #1 to be an ambassador for the good of tennis the way Federer, Nadal, & Djokovic did before him<\/p>\n
\u201cAs the world #1 and one of the biggest names in tennis, do you feel a responsibility to be an ambassador for the\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/zBXKPo39Q3<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) January 21, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n On facing a tough first set against Hanfmann, Alcaraz said, \u201cI knew he was going to play great. I mean, I know his level, I played him a few times already. To be honest, it was tougher than I thought at the beginning. I didn\u2019t feel the ball that good. You know, the ball was coming as a bomb, forehand and backhand,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n \u201cReally, really happy that I got through a really difficult first set and then I started to feel a little bit better on the court.\u201d<\/p>\n STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD<\/p>\n Alcaraz is hoping to become the youngest man to complete a career Grand Slam of all four majors at the Australian Open 2026.<\/p>\n Home<\/a>Sports<\/a>Tennis<\/a>Why Carlos Alcaraz says he isn\u2019t trying to be tennis\u2019 next ambassador despite comparisons with Federer and NadalEnd of Article