Carlos Alcaraz is preparing to defend his title in Monte Carlo following his setback in Miami, but it is off the courts that the young Spanish tennis prodigy has been making headlines. The current Australian Open champion and holder of the ATP Masters 1000 title in the Principality, which begins this Sunday, took part in a relaxed Instagram session with the LTA, where he was challenged to choose his favorite players among various tennis legends. The result? Surprising and entertaining responses that reveal much about the respect and admiration Alcaraz has for his idols from the past, as well as for the new generation.
The confrontation began with a choice between two tennis giants: Pete Sampras or Boris Becker. Without hesitation, Alcaraz declared, “Scusa Boris!”, opting for Sampras, the legendary American seven-time Grand Slam champion. But the competition promised to heat up. Soon after, Lleyton Hewitt entered the ring, and in an unexpected decision, Alcaraz chose the Australian over the American Sampras. This preference remained strong, with Hewitt surpassing names like Tommy Paul, Andy Roddick, Sam Querrey, and Marin Cilic in a sort of virtual knockout.
However, the first major threat to Hewitt’s reign appeared in the form of Italian Matteo Berrettini. Alcaraz, with a smile, admitted, “Ahh, it’s difficult,” but he stuck with his bet on the former world number one. The saga continued until Grigor Dimitrov interrupted the streak, “eliminating” Hewitt from Alcaraz’s choices. Alcaraz then opted for Andy Murray to face the Bulgarian, and surprisingly preferred the Scot not only over Dimitrov but also over himself.
Arriving at the final showdown, Alcaraz had to choose between Murray and Rafael Nadal. Unsurprisingly for Spanish fans, the winner was his compatriot Nadal, to whom Alcaraz bestowed the symbolic title with a simple and definitive: “Rafael Nadal is the winner!”.
Interestingly, in this selection of choices, names that have dominated the modern era of tennis such as Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic were not even presented, which makes Alcaraz’s responses all the more intriguing.
This relaxed and revealing moment, shared by the LTA on Instagram, showcases not only the human side of the young champion but also his deep knowledge and respect for the history of tennis. As he prepares to defend the precious 1000 points in Monte Carlo, Alcaraz demonstrates that his mindset goes far beyond the present, always looking to the legacy of those who came before.
Stay tuned, because the title defense in the Principality promises intense emotions, and Alcaraz has already proven that he is not just a talented player, but also a true enthusiast and connoisseur of the sport he is revolutionizing.
This article first appeared on Apito Final.
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