As if Carlos Alcaraz‘s overall standard of play wasn’t enough of an example to follow, Judy Murray is impressed by how he carries himself off the court, too. And the star tennis coach has said her son, Andy, wishes he behaved a little bit more like the current world No. 1 when he was at the peak of his career.
Alcaraz, 22, is the most dominant force in men’s tennis right now. He became the latest player to complete the career Grand Slam after winning the Australian Open last month and has featured in each of the past four major finals. The Spaniard is currently edging his rivalry with Jannik Sinner, which looks likely to dominate the top of the sport for years to come. And yet he’s doing so while still taking the time out to stop and smell the roses along the way. That’s the bit that impresses Murray Sr most, given she’s well-acquainted with just how much pressure there is to perform at the pinnacle. And she revealed not doing so himself was one of son Andy’s major regrets after he’d hung up his racket.
Speaking to Tennis Insider Club about the idea of star players becoming overly invested in their on-court success, Murray reponded: “I think that’s why I have really enjoyed watching Carlos Alcaraz.
“Y’know, [he thinks] ‘Go to Ibiza, because I celebrate with my friends,’ whatever, ‘I go and play golf.’ I love that! Because there is more to life than just tennis, and the calendar is so stacked now, and there’s so little space to enjoy.
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“And I know that one of the things that Andy said after his career was he wished he’d had more time to enjoy the successes. You know, you win on a Sunday, you pack your bag, you ship out that night! You don’t even have time to go out for dinner to celebrate. I think you need the fun stuff as well, don’t you?”
Many would be inclined to agree. And yet, when the standard-bearers in men’s tennis – names like Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal – didn’t seem to do so themselves, it paints the picture that letting one’s foot off the gas will be an obstacle to matching their achievements.
And yet Alcaraz, who beat Arthur Fils to win the Doha Open final last month, has proved himself a rare commodity in being able to strike that balance just right. Even when he’s playing on the court, the youngster matches an unrelenting intensity against moments of joy and calm.
It’s that same fine equilibrium that has won Alcaraz legions of fans in recent years. Despite having won seven Grand Slam titles in less than four years, he also keeps his priorities in the right place when it counts.
The Spaniard was gunning for his historic win in Melbourne when he actually spoke up to defend opponent Alex De Minaur from getting a time violation penalty at one point in the competition. This further paints the image that while tennis may be a top priority, he’s not willing to sacrifice other morals and standards in his life to attain on-court success.