The Spaniard was highlighted as a unique talent but Rafael Nadal Was Ignored and not recognized

Íñigo Gurruchaga, a veteran Basque journalist who has covered wars and conflicts of all kinds, and who made London his other home more than 30 years ago, is curious. He looks up and on the plinth of the Wimbledon conference room, conversing, he sees the boy and the man, the young man, and the veteran. A two in one, all at once. First of all, because as much as his reality has forced him to develop faster than normal, Carlos Alcaraz is betrayed by the frequent youthful sparks that he gives off, as well as the laughter and the jargon (“uncle”, “uncle”, “uncle ”, he frequently addresses his coach) that he usually uses in his circle of trust; the second, because he, who has seen Rafael Nadal grow and take shape in the successive passages of the Mallorcan through London, He is struck by the control of the scene shown by the Murcian, dressed in a striking fisherman’s hat that makes the reporter’s question inevitable.

– I am curious about the virtues of the hat you have chosen. Is it going to be your brand throughout the tournament or is it just a personal outburst?

– Well, I don’t know… I should! [laughs] No, I look good, so maybe it will serve as a charm. If I do well at the beginning of the week, maybe I take it every day. It’s cool…

Gurruchaga, as indicated, saw over the last two decades the blossoming of the Nadal phenomenon, from the whirlwind of the bandana, capri pants, and tank top to the big man he is today. And he points out a particularity between the Balearic Islands and Alcaraz: “They are an animal force.” At the same time that he qualifies: “But the latter is more sophisticated.” During the conversation, he underlines his “security”, despite being 20 years old, and above all his “personality” draws his attention to overcome such a complicated circumstance, the fact of being only 20 years old and at the same time the obligation to handle everything that comes with being an exception; for many specialists, it is unusual.

 

Experts, coaches, players, and relatives who have closely followed Alcaraz’s footsteps point out a coincidence: he has always been ahead of his age. Somehow, with it disappear the logical phases of growth. He was impressive as a child, as a juvenile and now in this hatching process still incomplete.

“It’s something we haven’t seen until now: a kind of sick combination of Roger, Djokovic, and Nadal,” says Croatian Ivan Ljubicic, who accompanied the Swiss genius on his final stretch on the circuit. “He can hurt in many ways,” said recently Paul Annacone, Federer’s tutor in his intermediate stage. “I think the grass is a very interesting surface because a lot of times I watch someone play and I think, ‘This guy can play well here, but for whatever reason, he doesn’t like it.’ And then there is Alcaraz, who thinks that his game may not adapt to grass, but in the end, he does it so well… He says that it is his favorite surface. That’s where it’s amazing. Maybe he can win five titles at Wimbledon, but you never know.” And the irate Nick Kyrgios abounds: “Seeing what he has been able to do in such a short time is crazy. He is very disciplined and loves sports. He has a showman inside, and I like that.”

Head, technique, determination

Consulted by this newspaper, Manuel Orantes from Granada points out that the current number one “has absolutely everything” and that “technically he is incredible”, in addition to the fact that “he has a good head”. The 1975 US Open and Masters Cup champion considers that “neither Federer nor Nadal nor Djokovic had that much power at the same age” and predicts “a truly impressive career”.

Having reached his twenties, Nadal already had two grades, while the other two giants had not yet raised any. Alcaraz has one, achieved last year in New York, but beyond his achievements, he generates a unanimity never seen before due to his maturity on and off the track. To his work ethic and his determination, unusual among youngsters progressing in the men’s circuit today, he adds a technical, tactical, and mental residue that is beyond the ordinary. Today the exceptionality is accentuated in this tour on the green, complicated, and uncontrollable territory where there are. “I feel as if I had played ten years on this surface,” transmits the man from El Palmar, the first tennis player other than Nadal, Federer, and Djokovic to go to Wimbledon as the first seed in 20 years.“I am a boy who learns quickly,” he adds.

Unlike other players who aimed high and have gradually faded away or others who have taken refuge in excuses to justify stagnation, Alcaraz flees from subterfuge and self-criticism tends to appear in his speech. Although he is just starting, he plays professionally as a long-time tennis player.

“For me, as a tennis fan, buying any player with the magnificent three, no matter how much potential they may have, is very difficult. I am Federer’s age, and I have played against Rafa and Novak, and sometimes I think: But winning a Grand Slam is already milk! Sampras had won 14, and that was already absolutely incredible, and there was also Borg. Before Becker, Edberg, or McEnroe were already gods, and we see what those three have done and it is very difficult to understand. There are still times when I sit down, think about it and discuss it with colleagues and say to myself: ‘This is not possible’. It’s not real! It’s like when you see Kipchogue run a marathon and he does an incredible mark. But if he runs for 42 kilometers at the same speed that I sprint !  for 100 meters! That is inhuman. That is why I think that the comparison is not fair”, introduces the 41-year-old from Toledo. “But I also think that after those three guys, I haven’t seen anything similar to Carlitos, and look, I’ve seen tennis… It’s something very different from all the great talents that have emerged, apart from these three. It’s the best I’ve ever seen. He is very clear that he wants to follow his path and he is a true animal ”, concludes Feliciano, while tennis is still absorbed: Alcaraz, 20 years old. For many, never seen.

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