Alcaraz rejects ‘Nadal successor’ label

Carlos Alcaraz has often said that Rafael Nadal was his childhood hero. Numerous similarities have been drawn between the two Spaniards, with Alcaraz seen as the one to take over Nadal’s mantle following his retirement. However, the comparisons aren’t always helpful. “I don’t want to be called Rafa’s successor,” Alcaraz says in a new documentary […]

Carlos Alcaraz has often said that Rafael Nadal was his childhood hero.

Numerous similarities have been drawn between the two Spaniards, with Alcaraz seen as the one to take over Nadal’s mantle following his retirement.

However, the comparisons aren’t always helpful.

“I don’t want to be called Rafa’s successor,” Alcaraz says in a new documentary series on Netflix.

“I want to be called Carlos Alcaraz Garfia.”

Nadal, a 22-time major winner who spent 209 weeks as world number one, agrees.

Carlos Alcaraz: My Way follows the 21-year-old throughout his 2024 campaign, during which he defended his Wimbledon title and also won his first French Open trophy – the same major where Nadal was crowned a record 14 times.