Carlos Alcaraz, the global tennis phenomenon and current world number 1 in the ATP rankings, is not only dominating the courts — he’s also making waves off them! Just days after acquiring a luxurious yacht, the 20-year-old Spaniard made an irresistible proposal to American star Tommy Paul, promising a partnership as surprising as it is lucrative.
During the recent Miami Open, Alcaraz was seen enjoying himself aboard a Sunreef Catamaran which, interestingly, wasn’t his. After an early exit from the tournament, being knocked out in the round of 32 by Sebastian Korda, the Spaniard decided to temporarily step away from the circuit to recharge away from the stress of competitions. A few days later, bombshell news emerged: Carlos Alcaraz invested in a nautical masterpiece, a 27-metre catamaran being custom-built.
According to the prestigious Gazzetta dello Sport, the custom Ultima 88 model is being developed in collaboration with Sunreef Yachts, with an estimated price of around 10 million euros. For Alcaraz, the sea is the perfect refuge to “switch off” from the constant pressure of the ATP circuit and the challenges of public life.
“It’s mine. They’re going to build it and it will take between a year to a year and a half. I’m super excited… At sea, everything is relaxing. My priority is to switch off from everything. I’m really looking forward to it,” Alcaraz revealed during an interview with Tennis Channel.
But the surprise doesn’t end there. The Spaniard didn’t hesitate to extend a direct invitation to his American colleague Tommy Paul: “I saw that Tommy Paul said he wanted to come, so I might as well invite him!” he said with a playful smile. The world number 1 even plans an ‘alliance’: “I’ll invite him, but I’ll make a deal with him to go fishing together. Half for him, half for me.”
Tommy Paul, currently 18th in the world, also has reasons to celebrate this clay season, having recently won the ATP in Houston after an epic three-set victory against Argentine Roman Andres Burruchaga.
Amidst this nautical hustle and unexpected invitations, Carlos Alcaraz remains focused on defending his title at the Monte-Carlo Masters, an essential tournament to maintain his world lead. His biggest rival, Italian Jannik Sinner, world number 2, is closing the gap and threatens to steal his throne, now just 1190 points away.
Despite the pressure, Alcaraz shows a calm and determined stance: “I will lose the number 1 at some point, I don’t know if it will be in this tournament or another. I’m defending a lot of tough points, and even if I defend them, Jannik will gain points. I’ll try to play my best and see what happens. Right now, the ranking isn’t on my mind; what I want is to feel good on clay and see how this phase of the season goes.”
The Spaniard, who began his title defence with a victory over Sebastian Baez, now faces Argentine Tomas Martín Etcheverry in the round of 16. Meanwhile, Sinner secured a spot in the quarter-finals after a hard-fought duel with Tomas Machac.
Carlos Alcaraz proves that, besides being a tennis colossus, he also knows how to live in grand style off the courts, showing that luxury and competitiveness can go hand in hand. His new maritime adventure and the unexpected proposal to Tommy Paul only heighten the anticipation of what’s yet to come in this electrifying season. Stay tuned: the world number 1 is not just sailing, he’s commanding the waves of tennis and lifestyle!
