Alcaraz Asks for an End to Constant Comparisons with Nadal
ATP
Carlos Alcaraz continues to dominate the world of tennis, which doesn’t help with being constantly compared to Rafael Nadal, something he admitted is starting to bother him.
Alcaraz didn’t come out on his own and explicitly say that the comparisons to Nadal would annoy him. In fact, he said that didn't necessarily annoy him, but it is a question that he receives way too often.
Comparisons in sports are very common. Whenever someone breaks a record or does something special, the first thing people jump to is to compare that to somebody else. In tennis, it’s even more so because three guys set the bar so high that anytime someone achieves something tremendous, that achievement will inevitably be compared to them because nobody else really did it.
Alcaraz, as the biggest young star to emerge in recent memory, has been constantly compared to all members of the Big Three. The comparison with Nadal comes from him being Spanish, much like Nadal, and some analysts have expressed worry that it puts too much pressure on him.
On an individual level, it’s also unfair because he’s his own tennis player with already-proven greatness, so there is no need to frame his achievements through another player’s lens.
Alcaraz, who recently lifted the Indian Wells trophy, himself has admitted that it’s a question he gets too often because, during a recent Q&A session, he was asked what question is annoying to get.
"It's not annoying, but I would say the comparison with Rafa."
While his humble demeanor shone through by refraining from calling it annoying, it’s clear that the question is starting to bother him, and why shouldn’t it? It’s a question that doesn’t achieve much because his greatness can be framed through his own achievements, and there is a lot to talk about.
He’s won many events so far in his career, including Grand Slam trophies, and he’s the youngest ATP World No. 1, so he’s a legend in his own right. There is no need to compare him to other legends.
During the Q&A, Alcaraz was also asked who he would want to be stuck in an elevator with. Unsurprisingly, he chose Roger Federer, whom he once named as his idol.
"Roger Federer. A lot of things to ask."
