Carlos Alcaraz to GQ Spain: ‘I’m not obsessed with being the best in the world’

In a cover story in the April-May issue, Alcaraz reflects on his upcoming Netflix documentary, ‘My Way,’ and how he wants to achieve his dreams while staying true to himself.

“Forget about the ranking”: Carlos Alcaraz focuses on enjoying the game during clay season

It’s no secret that Carlos Alcaraz aspires to be one of the greatest players in tennis history by the time his career is all said and done. But in the latest issue of GQ Spain, the Spaniard makes it quite clear: Whether No. 1 or No. 3, or four Grand Slam titles or 20, he is “not obsessed with being the best in the world.”

In a cover story in the April-May issue, where the 21-year-old models on a clay court wearing Louis Vuitton threads and a Rolex watch, Alcaraz reflects on his upcoming Netflix documentary, ‘My Way,’ and how he wants to achieve his dreams while staying true to himself.

“I was number one a few years ago, and I was happy,” he said. “Now I’m number three, and I’m equally happy. And I’m enjoying the journey, the sport, and life. I hope I never lose that naturalness, because that would be giving up a part of who I am. Although I imagine it’s inevitable to gain and lose things as the years go by. We’ll find out in 10 years.”

“I’ve always said I’d like to be the best in history and sit at the Big 3’s table, but those are big words, not an obsession,” he added, “and I always say I’d like to be remembered as an inspiration to the little ones, and as someone who had fun doing what he loved most, with a smile on his face and making people enjoy themselves.”

Alcaraz speaks positively about the pressure that comea with being him to GQ, saying that it “keeps you alive and means you’re fighting for very important things,” in a sentiment that represents a departure, or a learning, from the candor he has expressed as his results have waned in recent months. As world No. 1 Jannik Sinner has been sidelined on suspension in a settlement of his 2024 doping case, both Alcaraz and world No. 2 Alexander Zverev had opportunities to make inroads to, or even supplant Sinner at, the top spot.

But Alcaraz admitted to being overcome with nerves in a semifinal defeat to Jack Draper in Indian Wells, and lost his first match in Miami to David Goffin. When he arrived to the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters this week to begin his clay-court season, he even confessed that the pressure of navigating the situation and fielding questions about it may have even “killed me in some way.”

But, as he told GQ and also Prakash Amritraj on the Tennis Channel desk in Monaco, he’s not obsessing over the past either.