Carlos Alcaraz never wanted to be compared to Rafael Nadal or considered his successor, but both happened simply because of how events unfolded.
Over the past couple of years, Nadal has been slowly fading out of tennis. The Spaniard began dealing with more injuries and spending more time away from the courts.
His brand never declined, but his stock as a tennis player certainly did, and when a young and super-talented Spanish player emerged, people jumped to conclusions.
Alcaraz didn't want to be labeled as Nadal's successor, but coming through and literally taking his place did the trick in most people's minds. Alcaraz has had one of the best career starts of any player, ever, becoming the youngest world number one ever on the ATP Tour, which garnered him many fans quickly.
Even Nadal used the word 'predestined' when talking about him. His amazing and exciting style of play has made people fall in love with his tennis, and now, almost everyone agrees that Alcaraz will lead Spanish tennis in the next decade.
Fellow Spaniard Garbine Muguruza recently spoke about that with Esquire and how Alcaraz took over Nadal's reign, but she also highlighted a stark difference between the two players.
For much of his career, Nadal was reserved, not offering or talking too much. Alcaraz is way more outgoing. He's comfortable in his own skin, he talks, and he shares his thoughts openly, which is in stark contrast to the 22-time major winner and how he handled things.
"Yes, the truth is that there are times when we think a lot about what we say, especially so that it doesn't come back to haunt us. But I like to say what I think because, in the end, it's like the saying: "Fake it till you make it", which is something like: "If you believe something, in the end you'll make it possible." You know?"
That confidence is at the heart of everything Alcaraz does. He's been quite open about wanting to become the best player in the world, and, temporarily, he's achieved that. He's also been very open about wanting to become the best in history, and while it seems almost impossible, he believes he can do it.
Nadal was less outspoken about such goal. He didn’t really telegraph his goals and ambitions like that. It's still a conversation he doesn’t feel most comfortable in, while Alcaraz loves to speak his mind.
He's supremely confident, and it shines through every time he plays. Even the shots he attempts are outrageous, but that's just him. And that's what makes him very different from Nadal. He's more upfront about it.
"Either you believe you're going to achieve it or you're sure you won't. Rafa [Nadal] is more reserved in that aspect. I like Carlos [Alcaraz], I see him with more self-confidence, I see him younger, I see that he talks more and says what he thinks. And I think that people also appreciate that and not mincing words so much."
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