Carlos Alacraz has revealed some of the superstitious routines he commits to while on court and before competitions and matches.
Alcaraz has raced to the top of men's tennis over the last two seasons and the Spanish star won his third ATP title of 2023 last week with a Barcelona Open final win against Stefanos Tsitsipas. The win follows victories at Indian Wells and the Argentina Open this season.
While Alcaraz's technical ability and power on the court are clear for all to see, there are some elements to the teenager's game that are less noticeable. In an interview with Marca magazine, the 19-year-old revealed he follows some repetitive ticks during a match due to superstition.
"I try to repeat the things that are going well even if they are nonsense. If at the beginning of the week I do one thing and win the first game, I try to do the same."
Alcaraz is not the first player to have unique superstitious traits. His compatriot Rafael Nadal is well known for lining up his drinks bottles in a particular order, while WTA star Petra Kvitova has a favoured Nike headband.
However. Alcaraz explained that some of his routines come in the build-up to matches rather than on the court. Singing and playing Eye of the Tiger are some of the Spaniard's preferred methods for preparation.
"Normally we sing it in the car, when we go from the hotel to the club, I also sometimes wear it when I'm doing mobility exercises at the gym. In Barcelona I didn't wear it because we were close to the tournament and I didn't even have time."
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