Carlos Alcaraz may be rewriting tennis history—but when it comes to Rafael Nadal’s reign at Roland Garros, even he knows where the line is drawn.
Fresh off his Monte-Carlo Masters title—his sixth ATP Masters 1000 trophy—Alcaraz now stands with four Grand Slams under his belt, including two at the French Open. But despite his own blazing start on clay, the 21-year-old has come to a humbling realization: Nadal’s record of 14 French Open titles is simply out of reach.
In a recent interview with Marca, Alcaraz was asked if he still believed he could match that insane feat. His answer? An emphatic no.
“Yes [it’s impossible]. What Rafa has done on clay is the greatest thing in sport. Not just in tennis,” Alcaraz said. “Winning 14 Roland Garros, 11 times in Monte Carlo, eight in a row—that’s outrageous. Only people who are not from this world are capable of doing that.”
It’s a rare and striking admission from the ATP World No. 2—especially coming from someone who’s made a habit of defying expectations at every turn. Still, with Nadal’s legacy towering over the clay season, Alcaraz has adopted a new mindset: one that prioritizes joy over rankings.
After a setback at the Miami Open in March, the Spaniard said he’s focusing less on climbing the ATP ladder and more on having fun on court.
Currently competing in the Barcelona Open, Alcaraz is set to face Laslo Djere in the Round of 16 as he sharpens his game ahead of his French Open title defense next month. With a season record of 21–4 and two titles already, he’s proving once again that he’s a major threat—even if Nadal’s record remains on a pedestal.
For Alcaraz, the mission continues. But even the next-gen king of clay knows that some legends are just built different.
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