Alcaraz, a smile that is “the key to everything I manage to do”

What strikes you most about Carlos Alcaraz when you see him play tennis, over and above his talent and his ability to hit shots from another world, is his permanent smile. On and off the court, after a winning shot or even after a lost point, the Spaniard puts a broad smile on his face and never hesitates to congratulate his opponent.

It’s a joie de vivre that’s a joy to behold, and shows that the 20-year-old loves what he does and is living his ‘childhood dream’ to the full. In an interview with Le Figaro on Tuesday to mark the launch of his personalised trunk, the Louis Vuitton ambassador opened up about his cheerful personality and what it brings him on the tennis court.

“It’s natural, ever since I started at the age of four or five,” he said. “I always try to enjoy the moment and live my childhood dream. I still see tennis as a game and I always enjoy being on the court. Having a smile on my face is the key to everything I do. I smile a lot when I play and that reflects on my game.

“What makes me happy? Doing different things that are out of the ordinary and seeing the crowd enjoy it. Their enthusiasm makes me really happy, and that gives me even more energy. I love drop shots when they feel right in my hand. But my favourite shot is the forehand, which I feel really comfortable with. I use a lot of power with this shot, which scares most players, which is why it’s my favourite. I try to make the most of it, even if it doesn’t always work.”

STILL ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT: “I’M AT 70 or 75 per cent OF MY POTENTIAL”

Alcaraz is the youngest player in the Open era to become world No 1 and finish the year as the world No 1, as he did in 2022. The 20-year-old already has two Grand Slam titles to his name, the US Open 2022 and Wimbledon 2023, where he beat Novak Djokovic in an epic five-set final.

Although he is one of the best players in the world, the Spaniard is not yet a complete player. He is aware that he has not yet reached 100 per cent of his potential, as he told Le Figaro.

“I’m probably at 70 or 75 per cent. I have a lot of room for improvement. My tennis is good, but mentally and physically I also need to improve, so it’s a mixture of all that,” he said. “I’m only 20 and I still have a lot of room for improvement. Because tennis is constantly changing, and you have to adapt and evolve with it.”

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