Alcaraz's Netflix docuseries: Five things we learned

Carlos Alcaraz was forced to withdraw from the Mutua Madrid Open this week due to an adductor injury. But that is not the only reason the spotlight was on the 21-year-old in Spain.

This week Netflix released a new docuseries 'Carlos Alcaraz: My Way'. ATPTour.com looks at five things we learned from the series.

The Spaniard is not shy about sharing his ambitions
A theme of the three-episode series is Alcaraz’s chase not just to be one of the best tennis players in the world, but to be the best in history.

“I’d like to be on par with the Big Three as far as titles go,” Alcaraz said. “It’s part of my struggle to be the best athlete in history.”

Members of his team often point out what it takes to maximise his potential, using Novak Djokovic's willingness to make sacrifices as an example.

“Maybe i’m not as strict with myself,” Alcaraz said. “I’m taking my time to really enjoy more — and maybe more than I should — and ultimately that’s my method.”

There are difficulties fans don’t see
People around the world see Alcaraz’s highlight-reel efforts on the court and all the smiling he does. It always appears the Spaniard is having a blast.

But the docuseries shows that not everything is easy for the 21-year-old. The demands of life as a professional tennis player — and chasing history — take their toll from time to time.

“In 2023 I was already mentally exhausted,” Alcaraz said. “It was 24/7, 100 per cent about tennis and at the French Open, I lost to Djokovic in the semi-finals and I had a friend who was on vacation during that time and he was going to be in Ibiza with friends… ‘Let me make it out, tomorrow I’m going’.

“I knew I had to talk to [agent] Albert [Molina] first. ‘Sh*& Albert, I don’t know how to tell you, I mean man I’ve got to go, if even for two or three days to Ibiza’.”

Alcaraz’s team was not thrilled with the idea with Queen’s Club and Wimbledon coming up, but in the series it becomes clear that there are points when the Spaniard senses when he needs a break and takes one in an effort to reset.

Federer & Agassi provided sage advice
Several legends, including Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Andre Agassi appear in the series. Federer and Agassi both provided memorable advice.

Alcaraz recalled a nugget Federer gave him: “I asked him what he did to maintain his motivation for so long year after year after year and he told me that I have to make life more enjoyable and you have to somehow find enjoyment in every tournament you get to attend. Meet friends, find things to do, go see films, always find things to do that bring you happiness wherever you go.”

Agassi, another former No. 1 player in the PIF ATP Rankings, told Alcaraz in a limousine in Las Vegas to pick Nadal’s brain when the lefty retired.

“When he decides, whenever, you should reach him and ask him for the things that he would do different,” Agassi said. “Be smart, you know. You always want to learn in 10 minutes what took somebody 10 years.”

Family & friends are very important to Carlitos
Alcaraz is most at ease around family and friends. He enjoys living at home with his family in Murcia and loves his mother Virginia’s cooking.

A special scene is during Alcatraz’s 21st birthday celebration at home with family and friends. His grandmother sings and Alcaraz is all smiles. His older brother Alvaro also keeps him humble.

“He really is a family guy. he loved being with his childhood friends at the party because it’s when he’s the most relaxed and can really be himself,” Alvaro said, before the scene cut to b-roll of the group watching Alvaro speak to Carlitos on video. “Please know that no matter how famous you decide you want to be, that you’ll always be my little brother and I’ll slap you over the head if you get all full of yourself.”

Ferrero says young Alcaraz was like a roller-coaster
Former World No. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero provides plenty of insight through the series as he pushes Alcaraz to be the best he can be. The 16-time tour-level titlist discussed how Alcaraz’s agent, Alberto Molina, asked him to join the team.

“The idea of getting to work with a young kid, work with him from a young age to help build something from the ground up with the knowledge I have as a player, as a trainer, the idea spoke to me very much,” Ferrero said.

Alcaraz would spend a couple of weeks at the coach's eponymous academy, living there before going home for a weekend. Ferrero was honest about those days.

“Carlos was a shy kid at the beginning with me. I think he had a lot of respect for me. He wasn’t very stable,” Ferrero said. “His emotional maturity, man he got very cocky with the wins and then he’d complain if it doesn’t go his way, he was down. So basically, a roller-coaster.”