Following in his father’s footsteps: Carlos Alcaraz’s VERY supportive dad was a promising tennis player hindered by a lack of funding before becoming his son’s mentor
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He’s facing Novak Djokovic in the Wimbledon final – and whatever the outcome, he’ll be known as a tennis great.
But it seems Carlos Alcaraz’s talent may in part run in his genes, with the Spaniard, 20, taking after his father, Carlos Alcaraz Snr.
Carlos Snr was once a promising tennis player himself in the early 1990s – indeed, he was ranked among the top 40 players in Spain. But sadly, a lack of funding meant he most likely never reached his full potential.
According to The Sun, Carlos Snr has had to instead gain true fulfilment in his son’s success, having been a coach, mentor and constant support for the World No1.
Living in the village of El Palmar down the coast from popular holiday destination Alicante, Alcaraz began playing at a local club – the Real Sociedad Club de Campo de Murcia – of which his dad was director.
Carlos Alcaraz of Spain poses with the winner’s trophy alongside father, Carlos Snr. after victory against Alex De Minaur of Australia in the Men’s Singles Final match at Queens 2023
The club has slowly developed into a popular training ground, and boasts 13 clay tennis courts, a swimming pool, basketball courts and shooting range.
In addition, it has links to Carlos’ grandfather – also Carlos – who, according to The Guardian, also learned how to play tennis there and was key in its development.
It was at this club that the family would spend much of their time. After long days at work as an estate agent, Alcaraz Snr would play with his son as the sun went down.
And he would also shout advice from the side lines when his son was playing matches against older and harder opponents.
Keen for him to succeed, and recognising his early talent, he also began accompanying Carlos to a number of tennis events, including the ATP 1000 Madrid Masters.
But it was only when a financial backer came along that the future began to look bright.
For – in a twist of face – Carlos won the financial backing of Alfonso Lopez Rueda, the tennis-loving president of Spanish cake and yoghurt giant Postres Reina.
Alfonso Lopez Rueda, who lived locally, became a regular at the sports’ club, enjoying its clay courts.
Carlos Alcaraz’s father Carlos Alcaraz Snr and Carlos’ younger brother watching at Wimbledon on day 6 – 2023
Carlos Alcaraz of Spain with his father Carlos Snr, his mother Virginia Garfia and brother Alvaro Alcaraz after winning the Men’s Singles Final match against Jan-Lennard Struff in Madrid in May
And when he saw Carlos play, he was so impressive, he put up €2,000 for Alcaraz to travel to a junior tournament in Croatia.
He lost in the final but Postres Reina continued to fund him until he turned professional, with their logo on his sleeve.
Those tournaments and that funding helped put the Spanish phenomenon on the road to stardom.
It was in 2018, however – just five years ago – when Carlos Snr helped his son take a big stride forward in his career.
For Carlos Snr signed his son at Juan’s Sport Academy with Juan Carlos Ferrera, a former world number one player – sacrificing his own role.
Juan then became Carlos’ new coach and helped to improve his technique. Yet Carlos still credits his father – who works as an estate agent – with helping him get where he got today.
In an interview with Espana Diario about his father: ‘He knows a lot about tennis… My father played very well, everyone who faced him says so, but he did not have the opportunity to grow.’
It is not just Carlos’ father though that has had involvement in his success.
Alcaraz of Spain poses with the trophy alongside his father after beating Alex De Minaur
His mother is Virginia Garfia Escandón – who married Carlos Snr when they were both in their twenties. Although not into sports herself, she is often seen at her son’s tournaments.
She has watched as he has gained successes – including earning a place in the Australian Open and reaching the third round before becoming the youngest ever match-winner at the Madrid Open aged 17, breaking a record set by none other than fellow Spaniard Rafael Nadal.
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She was present when he made his historic victory at the US Open Championships in 2022.
She still however, lives a humble lifestyle and until recently she reportedly worked as an assistant in IKEA, according to The Mirror.
The stability of family life has no doubt helped Carlos with his success – and he also has three brothers called Alvaro, Sergio, and Jaime.
His older brother Alvaro is said to be an actor, while his two younger brothers Sergio and Jaime Alcaraz are at school.
And Carlos is said to still live in a two-floor penthouse flat with his parents.
So committed are his parents to him that his father was recently involved in a ‘spy-gate’ with Djokovic.
According to The Telegraph, a ‘spy-gate’ row broke out over allegations Carlos Alcaraz’s father filmed Djokovic during a training session.
Djokovic has recently complained about privacy during his training sessions.
In a recent Serbian-language conference, he said: ‘The circumstances are such that we don’t have privacy in training, although sometimes I would like to have more privacy.’
When questioned, Alcaraz told a Wimbledon press conference: ‘My father is a huge fan of tennis. Being able to watch Djokovic in real life, yeah, probably it is true he’s film the sessions.’
However, he added: ‘I mean, I have a lot of videos from Djokovic on every platform. I think it’s not an advantage for me.’
Regardless of that, Carlos says the blockbuster Wimbledon final against Novak Djokovic is going to be the ‘best moment of my life’.
The world number one is gunning for his first title in SW19 but is coming up against the toughest test of all in Djokovic, who has eyes on a record-equalling eighth success on Centre Court.
Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz returns to Serbia’s Novak Djokovic in the final of the men’s singles on day fourteen of the Wimbledon tennis championships in London
A 16-year age gap between the two players makes Sunday the ultimate generation game as Alcaraz looks to dethrone 36-year-old Djokovic.
And the Spaniard, who disposed of third seed Daniil Medvedev, is going to cherish the moment.
‘It is probably going to be the best moment of my life – probably,’ he said. ‘Playing a final here in Wimbledon is something that I dream about when I start playing tennis. As I said before, it’s even better playing against Novak.
‘It’s going to be a really emotional moment for me. But I’ll try to stay calm in that moment. For Novak it is one more day, one more moment. For me, it’s going to be the best moment of my life I think.’
It is a rematch of the recent French Open semi-final where Alcaraz played brilliantly to level at one set all before cramp ruined his chances and Djokovic raced to a four-set win on his way to a record 23rd grand slam title.
Alcaraz, chasing his second after winning last year’s US Open, has vowed to do things differently in his preparation.
‘I will try to get into the court with not as much nerves as I probably had in French Open, in the semi-final,’ he said. ‘I will try to pull out all the nerves, try to enjoy that moment because probably in the semi-final at the French Open I didn’t enjoy at all in the first set.
‘I’ll do something different. I’ll prepare the match a little bit different from the French Open. It’s going to be different for me. I hope not to get cramp during the final. I think I’ll be better on Sunday.’
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