How Did Carlos Alcaraz’s Love for Tennis Begin? Everything to Know About El Palmar’s Legendary Man Who Made the Sport Famous

“With tennis in my blood,” I’m running the show in the tennis world! Guess who am I? Your very own, Carlos Alcaraz! The kid from Murcia who’s taken the tennis world by storm. At just 21, I’ve conquered three Grand Slam titles on different surfaces, fulfilling many of my wildest tennis dreams. Now, it’s time to aim even higher and challenge the legendary ‘Big Three.’ This journey wouldn’t have been possible without the unwavering support of my family.

The Alcaraz clan has a long history with the racquet sport. Alcaraz’s tennis lineage runs deep, rooted in the club boasting 13 tennis and four padel courts, along with a pool, gym, basketball court, and football pitch. His grandfather, also named Carlos, transformed the club from its inception, instilling a profound tennis culture. The passion was inherited by Alcaraz’s father who, despite talent, couldn’t pursue professional tennis due to financial constraints. Alcaraz’s father became the tennis director at the club after giving up his professional career. It took three generations, culminating in Alcaraz, for the family’s tennis dream to be fully realized.

“I loved tennis since the beginning. I mean my father brought me my first racket. And the first time that I played tennis I fell in love,” Alcaraz said in an interview. According to one of his coaches, Kiko Navarro, Carlos’ dad once told him to have a look at his son. Navarro revealed that he was quite amazed with his “spectacular” skills at such a young age. “He began to play with his dad, and one day [his father] asked me to watch him. This kid, at four, five years old, was spectacular,” said the coach.

Club members fondly recall a young, fiery Carlitos, as he was known, during his formative years. Sarria, a long-time member, remembers a particular meeting with Alcaraz’s father: “I went to look for Carlos Sr and there I find Carlitos watching a game between grandparents by the fence on court three,” he says, laughing. “He knew how they were faring, he told them the mistakes they were making: ‘You have to serve here.’ He has a passion for tennis.”

Alcaraz’s remarkable shot-making ability can be traced back to his father, his initial coach, who instilled a strong technical foundation. However, Sarria emphasizes that this coaching method is standard at the academy. What sets Alcaraz apart is his exceptional ability to translate these techniques into match-winning performances, rapidly developing a formidable arsenal. Alcaraz’s exceptional touch and shot variety can be attributed to his early development. His uncle, Tomás, fondly recounts taking the five-year-old to his first tournament, where he faced opponents significantly older and taller. “And he almost won the match because he had the skill [and] he had the resources to say: ‘Well, I can’t win like this, I’m going to win this other way,’” said Sarria.

Alcaraz feels he’s quite lucky to do what he loves most. Tennis gives him the chance to return the joy to the one who did so much to see where he is today. Even his current coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero, once spoke about the enormous contribution of his family to his rapid rise. He said, his family even “has a very important role to play” in keeping him grounded.

Alcaraz is grateful for all the support he has got from his family to reach the heights of his career

During an interview with the New York Times, the Spaniard revealed, “In my family, I think we have the sport in our blood. We all played from the time we were young.” Alcaraz credits his success to those around him. Even his mother and brother are frequently spotted showcasing their support during his matches. “For me, it’s really, really important. As I said, doing great in tennis because of the people that I have around,” Alcaraz said in an interview with Tennis Channel in 2023.

Even during his recent triumph at the 2024 French Open, he paid a special tribute to his parents who were spotted sitting in the stands at the iconic stadium. Alcaraz said it’s always “amazing” for him to have their support during his matches. He revealed how he used to run from school to put the TV on to watch Roland Garros during his childhood.

now, he’s lifting the trophy in front of all of them. These moments are truly special moments in a player’s career. Are we gonna see a similar moment featuring the proud parents at SW19 on Sunday (July 14)?