FIRST TEACHER
Deep in the sprawling suburbs of Murcia (6th largest city in Spain) are characteristic walls with horizontal lines. It was here, nearly two decades ago, that Alcaraz boy continuously hit thousands of tennis balls against the wall day in and day out.
He plays without boredom and is so passionate that he gets angry when he is called home for dinner. Without needing a player to play with, Alcaraz can still improve his skills just by hitting the wall until the paint there is blurred or peeling. Alcaraz does not need to be a member of the Real Sociedad de Campo club to play tennis in such a unique way. Simply, it was his grandfather, Carlos Alcaraz Lerma, who founded this club.
Born into a family of felt-ball players, from an early age Alcaraz brought his racquet everywhere. When Alcaraz was 4 years old, he learned to play tennis with his brother Alvaro.
Growing up a little, Alcaraz was personally tutored by his father, Carlos Alcaraz Senior. Once on the list of top 40 players in Spain, Mr. Carlos Alcaraz Senior can of course teach his son useful experiences.
However, it was not long before Alcaraz’s father neglected his responsibilities because he had more things to take care of. Mr. Carlos Alcaraz Senior is too busy to take care of 4 children but also to run the club. Finally, he handed over Alcaraz to Kiko Navarro, who was the first teacher of the current world No. 1 player.
Basically, coach Navarro understands Alcaraz very well because he has a similar starting point as his student. This coach also has a father who works at Campo Club, so he can play tennis for free here. When he was young, coach Navarro showed his talent and even defeated the famous star Rafael Nadal.
However, because his family could not afford it, Mr. Navarro did not have enough money to attend tournaments. Not wanting to give up his passion for tennis, coach Navarro decided to stay at the club to do coaching. It was this fate that helped him and Alcaraz meet. Thanks to Navarro, the new Alcaraz is getting better and better. At the age of 15, he was considered by experts as one of the five players with the best forehand shots.
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According to Navarro, when he was a boy Alcaraz was very small and thin. That’s why he made his students spend hours in the gym every day to practice with the goal of improving muscle.
However, Alcaraz’s speed and reflexes came naturally and he didn’t have to work hard. It can be said that Alcaraz has been endowed with these precious qualities. Technically, coach Navarro affirmed that Alcaraz improved faster than Nadal if considering the same age.
The most important point here is that Alcaraz’s attitude and enthusiasm is impeccable. After every loss, Alcaraz never gives up. He is not afraid of opponents who are taller or older than him.
When asked about the secret to helping Alcaraz become a star, coach Navarro said: “I am stricter with Alcaraz than his father. As Alcaraz’s teacher, I never allow my students to use cell phones or waste time on video games.”
In short, Alcaraz is where it is today thanks to the great work of coach Navarro. In addition to coach Navarro, an equally important factor to help Alcaraz grow up is businessman Alfonso Lopez Rueda. Remember when the Alcaraz family did not have money for their son to attend the U10 tennis tournament in Pulat (Croatia), it was Mr. Rueda who helped.
Owning Postres Reina, a local sweets company known for its main products such as pudding and yogurt, Mr. Rueda has a large budget. He is a member of the Campo Club and has a son who is very close to Alcaraz. Knowing Alcaraz’s plight, it was Rueda’s son who asked his father to help his friend 3 years younger than him. In addition to the advice of coach Navarro, Mr. Rueda sponsored 2,000 euros for Alcaraz and his son to go to Croatia to attend the tournament.
Since then, Mr. Rueda has seen more clearly the potential and value of Alcaraz. This “strong sponsor” invites Alcaraz to be a long-term partner of Postres Reina. Thanks to earning money from wearing Postres Reina’s logo-printed outfits, the new Alcaraz is regularly rubbed in quality playgrounds. That was the premise for him to reach the top and now has become a “magnet” attracting countless sponsors.
Show a photo of you playing parkour with your friends
After defeating senior Novak Djokovic in the final of Wimbledon 2023, Alcaraz posted 2 photos on social networks. Specifically, next to the photo of Alcaraz lifting the Wimbledon championship trophy is the moment the 20-year-old tennis player was playing parkour with his friends when he was a boy (circled). Parkour is a freestyle sport derived from military exercises. There, the player must try to run, jump, climb, and overcome obstacles to reach the finish line in the shortest time.
